Great Dunmow Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Great Dunmow’s crime profile in May 2023 reveals a striking equilibrium between property and violent crime, with 25 property-related offences and 26 violent incidents recorded. This balance, while unusual compared to broader UK trends where property crime often dominates, may reflect the area’s unique demographic and geographic characteristics. The overall crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents places the built-up area 23.8% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, a gap consistent with its rural setting within Uttlesford. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for nearly half of all crimes (47.3%), a figure slightly above the UK average. This could indicate a higher concentration of social interactions in public spaces, linked to the area’s role as a commuter hub or its proximity to larger urban centres. Meanwhile, property crime categories such as burglary and criminal damage and arson saw significant spikes, with the latter exceeding the UK average by 77%. These increases may be tied to seasonal factors, including the impact of bank holidays and extended daylight hours on outdoor activities. However, the absence of a corresponding rise in theft from the person or shoplifting—both of which were below UK averages—suggests that local policing or community engagement efforts may have mitigated certain risks. The data also highlights a marked decrease in shoplifting (down 33.3% from April), which could be attributed to targeted interventions or shifts in retail patterns during the month. Overall, the crime picture in Great Dunmow remains distinct, shaped by a combination of its rural context, seasonal rhythms, and effective local crime prevention measures.

May 2023 saw sharp increases in criminal damage and arson (+400%) and burglary (+200%), both of which exceeded UK averages by 77% and 126%, respectively. These spikes may be linked to seasonal factors such as longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising, which could contribute to more incidents of vandalism and property crime. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 33.3% compared to April, aligning with a UK-wide trend of 59% below the national average for this category. This decline could reflect heightened police presence during bank holidays or seasonal retail activity patterns. Violent crime accounted for 47.3% of total offences, a share that mirrors the UK average (2.8 per 1,000), but with a slight 4% excess in violence and sexual offences. This balance between property and violent crime suggests a unique dynamic in the area, influenced by local community structures or policing strategies that have not yet been fully addressed in the data.

In May 2023, Great Dunmow recorded a crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents, a 3.5% decrease from the previous month’s 6.3 per 1,000. This places the area 23.8% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently lower crime profile than the national benchmark. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that contextualises the monthly total of 55 crimes. When scaled to the population of 9,084, this translates to one reported crime for roughly every 165 residents over the course of the month, illustrating a relatively low monthly exposure compared to larger urban centres. The slight decline from April may be attributed to seasonal factors, such as the end of the Easter school holidays, which often see a temporary spike in youth-related incidents. However, the persistent gap between Great Dunmow’s rate and the UK average suggests broader socioeconomic or geographic factors, such as the area’s rural character and limited commercial density, which may contribute to lower crime opportunities.