Great Dunmow Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences emerged as the dominant crime category in Great Dunmow during April 2024, accounting for 40.4% of all reported crimes. This category saw a 20.7% decrease from March, though it remains 2% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 residents. The town’s overall crime rate of 6.3 per 1,000 residents placed it 18.2% below the UK average of 7.7, a gap that reflects a combination of local factors and broader national trends. The seasonal context of April — marked by Easter, spring weather, and increased outdoor activity — may have influenced the crime profile. For instance, the sharp rise in vehicle crime (+133.3%) could be linked to higher traffic volumes or changes in parking patterns during the holiday period. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour (14.0% of total crimes) remained significantly lower than the UK average (26% below), suggesting that community cohesion or local initiatives may be contributing to a calmer public space. The relatively low rates of burglary (1.8% of total crimes) and drugs-related offences (1.8%) further underscore the town’s distinct profile, which contrasts with the UK average in these areas. This mix of crime types, coupled with the overall safety metrics, indicates that Great Dunmow’s crime picture is shaped by its character as a smaller, more tightly knit community compared to larger urban centres, where property crime and drug-related incidents tend to be more prevalent.

April 2024 brought stark contrasts in crime trends, with vehicle crime surging by 133.3% compared to March, rising from three to seven incidents. This sharp increase may be linked to the Easter period, when increased travel and outdoor activity could have exposed vehicles to theft or vandalism. Conversely, burglary fell by 80%, dropping from five to one incident — a decline that suggests improved home security measures or heightened community vigilance during the spring. The breakdown of crime types also reveals a significant shift in the balance between property and violent crime: while property crimes (20) accounted for 35% of the total, violent crimes (23) dominated at 40.4%, a share that is 2% below the UK average for this category. Shoplifting, though a minor category (3.5% of total crimes), saw a 100% increase from one to two incidents, influenced by seasonal shopping patterns or changes in retail footfall.

April 2024 saw an 8.2% drop in Great Dunmow’s crime rate compared to March, falling from 6.8 to 6.3 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with a broader trend observed in the area during the spring season, when outdoor activity increases but crime rates often stabilise. On a daily basis, the town experienced roughly two crimes per day in April, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall crime rate compared to larger urban centres. When considering the monthly exposure, one reported crime occurred for every 159 residents over the course of the month — a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents in relation to the local population. This rate is lower than the UK average, which suggests that Great Dunmow’s community may benefit from effective local policing or environmental factors that contribute to a safer environment. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that the town’s small size, with 9,084 residents, means each incident carries a more visible impact on the community than in larger areas with higher population densities.