Bramley and Wonersh Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Bramley and Wonersh's crime profile in December 2023, accounting for 42.1% of the area's 19 reported incidents. This category, at 1.6 per 1,000 residents, remains 39% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, a disparity that may reflect the built-up area's smaller population and potentially lower levels of social conflict compared to larger urban centres. The overall crime rate of 3.7 per 1,000, 48.6% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, positions Bramley and Wonersh as significantly safer than the national benchmark. This contrast is particularly striking given the month's seasonal context: December's dark evenings, Christmas shopping peak, and empty homes during holidays typically correlate with higher crime rates in other areas. However, the local data suggests a combination of factors—including effective community policing or the area's commuter-oriented demographics—mitigating risks. Property crimes, at 8 incidents (42.1% of total), were evenly split between vehicle crime (15.8%) and burglary (10.5%), with the latter's 100% increase from zero to two incidents highlighting a sudden shift in patterns. Meanwhile, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, both at 10.5% of total crimes, showed contrasting trends: shoplifting rose by 100%, while anti-social behaviour fell sharply. These fluctuations may be influenced by the area's retail presence and the seasonal dynamics of a post-industrial town transitioning into a commuter hub.

December 2023 saw a 100% increase in burglary and criminal damage and arson, both rising from zero to two incidents. This spike, while statistically significant, remains below the UK average for burglary (0.3 per 1,000) and criminal damage (0.6 per 1,000). Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 62.5% to three incidents, a decrease that aligns with the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences, the dominant category, fell by 20% to eight incidents, despite the month's holiday season and associated risks. This category's rate of 1.6 per 1,000 is 39% below the UK average, suggesting a combination of effective policing and the area's lower population density. Shoplifting also rose by 100%, from one to two incidents, though it remains 18% below the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. These shifts highlight the combination of seasonal factors—such as Christmas shopping—and local crime dynamics, with some categories defying expectations based on the area's character.

Bramley and Wonersh's crime rate in December 2023 stood at 3.7 per 1,000 residents, a 29.6% decline from the previous month's 5.3 per 1,000. This reduction reflects a broader trend in the built-up area, where the monthly exposure to crime translates to one reported incident for every 268 residents. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately one crime per day in December, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents within the local population. When compared to the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, the area remains significantly safer, with its crime rate 48.6% below the national benchmark. This disparity underscores the effectiveness of local policing strategies or the area's unique demographic characteristics, such as its smaller population and possibly lower levels of urban density. The monthly exposure metric offers residents a tangible sense of risk, illustrating that while crime is present, it is not pervasive in this part of Waverley. The year-end data also highlights the influence of seasonal patterns, with December's darker evenings and holiday-related dynamics potentially tempering certain crime types while others, like shoplifting, showed unexpected increases.