North Baddesley Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Shoplifting emerged as the dominant category in North Baddesley's crime profile during May 2024, accounting for 27.8% of all reported incidents. This figure, at 5 cases, marked a 25% increase from April but remained significantly lower than the UK average for shoplifting (0.6 per 1,000). The overall crime rate of 2.6 per 1,000 for the area was 69% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, a disparity that underscores the area's relative safety. Anti-social behaviour (4 cases, 22.2% of total) and violence and sexual offences (4 cases, 22.2% of total) followed as the second and third most common categories, both of which were 59% and 79% below UK averages respectively. These patterns may be influenced by the area's character as a built-up part of Test Valley, where community policing efforts and the absence of major urban centres likely contribute to lower rates of violent crime. The seasonal context of May—marked by longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising—may have driven the rise in shoplifting, as retail premises remain open later in the day. However, the overall crime rate's continued decline from the previous month (3.5 per 1,000) suggests that local interventions or natural fluctuations in criminal activity could be at play. While specific causal factors, the combination of low population density, targeted policing, and the area's built-up nature may collectively explain the sustained reduction in crime compared to national trends.

The most notable shift in May 2024 was a 25% increase in shoplifting, rising from 4 to 5 incidents. This category accounted for 27.8% of total crimes, slightly above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 (North Baddesley: 0.7 per 1,000). Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 60% compared to April, a decline that may reflect seasonal factors or targeted policing efforts. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 20%, aligning with the broader trend of reduced crime in the area. North Baddesley's rates for violence and sexual offences (0.6 per 1,000) are 79% below the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000, highlighting the area's comparative safety in this category. These figures suggest that while retail-related crime persists, other categories are experiencing significant reductions. Residents may find the 25% rise in shoplifting particularly relevant, as it indicates a need for continued vigilance in local businesses and public spaces.

North Baddesley's crime rate in May 2024 (2.6 per 1,000) represents a 28.0% decrease from April's 3.5 per 1,000, reflecting a continued trend of declining crime in the area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 392 residents, illustrating the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. Daily crime counts averaged roughly one per day, a figure that contextualises the pace at which incidents occur within the local population. When compared to the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, North Baddesley's rate remains strikingly low, with the area's crime profile significantly diverging from national trends. This contrast is particularly notable given the population size—7,062 residents—suggesting that local factors, such as community cohesion or policing strategies, may be contributing to the sustained reduction in crime. The monthly exposure metric (1-in-392 residents) offers a tangible sense of how infrequent crime is for individuals living in North Baddesley, reinforcing the area's position as one of the safer built-up areas in the UK.