Wantage Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Wantage’s crime rate in May 2023 stood at 3.9 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 51.2% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This substantial gap underscores the built-up area’s generally low crime profile compared to national trends. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences, accounting for 65.4% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (15.4%) and vehicle crime (3.9%). These figures align with seasonal patterns in May, when longer evenings and bank holidays may contribute to increased socialising and outdoor activity, potentially influencing crime dynamics. Despite the overall low rate, the dominance of violent offences highlights a distinct crime picture for Wantage, where property-related crimes are significantly underrepresented. For instance, vehicle crime and burglary rates are 56% and 35% below UK averages, respectively. This suggests a local context where property crime is less prevalent, due to the area’s character as a smaller, more tightly knit community with fewer high-traffic commercial zones. The low levels of criminal damage and arson (3.9% of total incidents) further support this. month-on-month drop in these offences remains an anomaly that may reflect temporary factors such as increased community policing efforts or seasonal changes in property usage. While the overall crime rate remains stable in comparison to the UK, the concentration of violent offences indicates a need for targeted approaches to address this specific category, even within a generally safe environment.

Violence and sexual offences saw a dramatic 142.9% increase in May, rising from 14 to 34 incidents. This jump, though significant, still places Wantage 10% below the UK average for this category. Conversely, criminal damage and arson plummeted by 87.5%, dropping from 16 to 2 cases—a stark contrast to the previous month. Vehicle crime also decreased by 33.3%, reflecting a broader trend of property-related offences declining across the area. Violent crimes now account for 65.4% of all incidents, shifting the crime mix toward a higher proportion of violent offences compared to property crimes. This shift may partly explain the overall rate increase, as violent crime typically carries a higher impact on perceived safety. Other crime and burglary each doubled from April, though these remain well below UK averages for their respective categories.

Wantage’s crime rate in May 2023 rose slightly to 3.9 per 1,000 residents from 3.7 per 1,000 in April, marking a 6.0% increase. While this suggests a small upward trend, the overall rate remains far below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. Daily crime statistics show 2 incidents occurred on average each day in May, a figure that, while low, reflects the area’s generally safe environment. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 258 residents, illustrating the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban areas. This monthly exposure metric contextualises the data for local residents, showing that the likelihood of encountering crime is minimal. When scaled to the population of 13,439, the numbers highlight Wantage’s position as a low-crime built-up area within Vale of White Horse, despite the small month-on-month fluctuation.