Faringdon Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Faringdon's crime rate in August 2023 stood at 6.4 per 1,000 residents, a figure that is 21.0% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This performance places the area in the lower quartile of crime rates nationally, a position consistent with its character as a built-up area within the Vale of White Horse, which likely benefits from a mix of residential and commercial land use that supports community policing efforts. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 55% of all reported crimes. This concentration of violent crime may be influenced by local factors such as the proximity to major transport routes or the presence of transient populations during the summer months. Criminal damage and arson, at 11.7% of all crimes, and shoplifting, at a similar proportion, followed as the next most common categories. These property-related offences may reflect the area's retail presence, though the sharp 75% increase in shoplifting compared to July raises questions about seasonal patterns or targeted criminal activity. The UK average for violent crime is 2.6 per 1,000, yet Faringdon's rate of 3.5 per 1,000 for this category is 33% above the national benchmark, suggesting a need for targeted interventions in this area. Seasonal context also plays a role: August, as a peak holiday month, may have influenced both the rise in shoplifting and the drop in burglary, as temporary residents or increased security measures in empty homes could have altered criminal opportunities. The overall crime profile indicates a combination of local demographics, seasonal factors, and policing effectiveness, with the area's lower-than-average burglary rate offsetting higher rates in violent and property crimes.

August 2023 saw a 100% increase in 'other crime' and 'possession of weapons' compared to July, with both categories rising from one incident to two. This sharp rise, though statistically significant, remains below the UK average for possession of weapons by 43%. Conversely, anti-social behaviour dropped by 90%, from 10 to 1 incident, a decline that may reflect seasonal changes in community activity. Violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 55% of all crimes, remained 33% above the UK average for this category, underscoring a persistent challenge in this area. Shoplifting increased by 75% (from four to seven incidents), a figure that exceeds the UK average by 17%. This trend may be linked to the summer holiday period, when temporary residents or tourists could contribute to retail-related offences. Meanwhile, burglary fell by 85.7%, from seven to one incident, a drop that may be partly explained by increased security measures in empty homes during the peak holiday season.

Faringdon's crime rate in August 2023 fell by 24.0% compared to the previous month, dropping from 8.4 to 6.4 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with the seasonal pattern of reduced foot traffic in local businesses and public spaces during the summer holiday period. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately two crimes per day in August, a figure that remains consistent with the area's historically low crime profile. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 157 residents, a rate significantly lower than the UK average. This monthly exposure metric suggests that residents are less likely to experience crime than the national average, though local variations in policing or community engagement may contribute to this disparity. The population context further highlights the scale: with 9,448 residents, the 60 reported crimes equate to a manageable burden for local services, though vigilance in areas with higher-than-average crime categories remains necessary.