Farnham Crime Rate

Farnham is a historic market town that maintains a strong safety profile, evidenced by a safety score of 86/100. Its overall crime rate for the period of January 2025 to December 2025 is 62.1 per 1,000 people, which sits comfortably below the UK national average of 91.6. The town has seen a stable trend in crime, with a slight year-over-year decrease of 1.5%. While Farnham experiences typical town-centre activity, including shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, its property crime rate remains low at 21.1 per 1,000. This data suggests that Farnham remains one of the more secure places to live and work in Surrey, providing a safe environment for its 20,709 residents.

Crime Breakdown in Farnham

In Farnham, the most frequent crime types are violence and sexual offences (35.0%), anti-social behaviour (15.6%), and public order offences (11.3%). These three categories represent over 60% of all recorded crime in the area. Shoplifting and other theft also feature prominently, together accounting for approximately 17.5% of incidents, which is typical for a busy market town with a significant retail presence.

Property crime in Farnham, which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft, occurs at a rate of 21.1 per 1,000 people. While this is higher than the broader Waverley average, it remains well below the UK average of 32.2. For residents, this means that while the town is generally safe, the density of commercial activity and residential properties requires sensible security measures. Burglary and vehicle crime specifically are relatively low, making up just 3.0% and 2.8% of total crimes respectively, suggesting that opportunistic theft in public spaces is more common than targeted residential break-ins.

Crime Trends in Farnham

The crime trend in Farnham is currently classified as stable. Over the 12-month period from January 2025 to December 2025, the total number of reported crimes saw a negligible decrease of 1.5%. This indicates that the town's safety environment is consistent, with neither a significant surge nor a major decline in criminal activity.

Analysis of the monthly trend data shows some seasonal volatility. The year began with relatively low rates, staying between 4.2 and 4.9 per 1,000 people from January to April. However, a significant increase was observed during the summer months, with the crime rate peaking at 7.2 in August. This summer spike is a common pattern in market towns, often linked to increased footfall and outdoor activity. Following this peak, the rate returned to more typical levels, ending the year at 3.8 in December. This end-of-year drop suggests that the summer increase was temporary and that the town's baseline safety remains high.

How To Keep Safe in Farnham

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Farnham, often linked to town-centre socialising and domestic reports. To maintain your personal safety in the town, consider the following advice:

1. When enjoying Farnham's nightlife, stay with your group and avoid walking alone through less-populated areas like Gostrey Meadow or the park after dark.
2. Be mindful of your surroundings in the town centre during peak times; keep personal belongings secure to prevent opportunistic "other theft," which accounts for 8.7% of local crime.
3. If you are walking home late at night, stick to well-lit main roads such as West Street or East Street rather than taking unlit residential shortcuts.
4. Use reputable taxi services or pre-booked transport when leaving the town centre late in the evening.
5. Report any instances of anti-social behaviour to the local authorities; early intervention helps maintain the town's overall high safety score and discourages further incidents.

Crime in Farnham follows distinct temporal patterns throughout the day. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) is the most active period for theft-related offences, likely due to the town's retail activity, with 57% of crimes in this period being theft. As the day progresses into the evening (6pm-12am), the nature of crime shifts; while theft drops to 25%, 'other' crimes (including public order and ASB) spike to 52%. The night-time hours (12am-6am) see a significant rise in vehicle crime, which accounts for 27% of incidents during this period, alongside a peak in the percentage of burglaries (18%). Morning hours (6am-12pm) are relatively quiet but still see a high proportion of theft as businesses open. These patterns suggest that while daytime crime is largely commercial and opportunistic, night-time crime is more focused on residential property and vehicles.

Farnham sits in a diverse local safety landscape. Compared to its immediate neighbours, it has a lower crime rate than Badshot Lea (66.0 per 1,000) but is notably higher than the more residential areas of Weybourne (36.8) and Wrecclesham (26.1). The nearby area of Runfold reports a statistical 0.0, highlighting its rural and low-density nature. For those looking at the Farnham area, the town centre naturally sees more activity due to its retail and social hubs, while the surrounding villages offer even lower crime rates. Overall, the entire cluster remains significantly safer than the UK average.

Home Security in Farnham

With a property crime rate of 21.1 per 1,000 people, Farnham residents enjoy a level of security that is superior to many other UK towns. However, the town's affluent character means that residential properties can still be attractive targets for theft and burglary. Traditional security systems, such as basic CCTV or standard alarm kits, are often reactive—they tell you what happened after the event. In a community like Farnham, shifting to a proactive security model can significantly enhance your home's safety.

The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to prevent crime before it happens. By monitoring multiple cameras simultaneously, scOS identifies potential threats at the property boundary. Its multi-camera intelligence and DVLA vehicle verification can instantly spot suspicious activity or unknown vehicles, triggering autonomous responses like activating security lights or audio deterrents. This "element of surprise" often forces intruders to move on before a break-in occurs. For Farnham homeowners, scOS provides a professional-grade alternative to DIY systems, focusing on real-time intervention and boundary protection rather than just recording footage of a crime.