Wantage Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Wantage’s crime rate in October 2025 (5.9 per 1,000 residents) remains 23.4% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, reflecting the area’s continued safety compared to national trends. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences (21 cases, 26.6% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (12 cases, 15.2%) and other theft (9 cases, 11.4%). This mix aligns with Wantage’s rural character, where community-focused policing and lower population density may contribute to reduced opportunities for property crimes. However, the seasonal context of October — marked by darker evenings and Halloween — likely influences the rise in anti-social behaviour and public order incidents. While violence and sexual offences remain below the UK average (1.6 vs 2.7 per 1,000), the area’s crime profile shows significant variation across categories. For instance, 'other crime' (0.4 per 1,000) exceeds the UK average by 135%, suggesting potential gaps in classification or reporting. This contrast highlights the complexity of crime patterns in a small built-up area, where local factors such as seasonal events and community dynamics interact with broader national trends. The lower rates of burglary (0.2 vs 0.3 per 1,000) and shoplifting (0.2 vs 0.6 per 1,000) further underscore the unique characteristics of Wantage, possibly shaped by its proximity to Oxford and limited retail density compared to larger urban centres.

October 2025 saw a stark rise in 'other crime' — a category encompassing unclassified incidents — which increased by 400% from September’s single report to five cases. This surge, coupled with a 250% rise in criminal damage and arson (from 2 to 7 incidents), suggests a shift in criminal activity patterns. Meanwhile, violent crimes fell by 25% (from 28 to 21), a decline that aligns with Wantage’s ongoing position below the UK average for violence and sexual offences (1.6 vs 2.7 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour also dropped to 12 cases (0.9 per 1,000), 29% below the UK rate of 1.3 per 1,000. However, 'other crime' and 'possession of weapons' both exceeded UK averages by 135% and 186% respectively, indicating areas requiring closer monitoring. Residents may find the 25% reduction in violent crime reassuring, but the 400% spike in unclassified crimes raises questions about underreporting or evolving criminal tactics.

Wantage's crime rate in October 2025 (5.9 per 1,000 residents) reflects a 46.3% increase from the previous month’s rate of 4.0 per 1,000. This upward trend contrasts with the area’s continued position below the UK average, which remains at 7.7 per 1,000. Locally, the daily crime count averaged 3 incidents per day over October, highlighting the persistent presence of criminal activity despite the overall lower rate. On a monthly scale, one reported crime occurred for every 170 residents, a figure that contextualises the exposure risk for Wantage’s population of 13,439. While the increase from September suggests a temporary spike, the area’s crime profile remains significantly safer than the national average, with violent crimes and anti-social behaviour both falling below UK benchmarks. This discrepancy may reflect Wantage’s rural character, where community cohesion and lower population density could contribute to reduced opportunities for certain types of crime, even as seasonal factors like darker evenings and Halloween influence specific incidents.