Farnham Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Farnham’s crime profile in January 2024 reveals a nuanced balance between property and violent crime, with property crimes (47 incidents) narrowly outpacing violent crimes (42 incidents). The overall rate of 6.1 crimes per 1,000 residents places the area 17.6% below the UK average, a figure that underscores the effectiveness of local policing or community resilience in mitigating criminal activity. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences (42 incidents, 33.3% of total), a rate 23% below the UK average, suggesting a combination of effective community support networks and targeted interventions. Anti-social behaviour (19 incidents) and public order offences (14 incidents) followed, with the latter 46% above the UK average – a discrepancy that may reflect the impact of shorter daylight hours on outdoor interactions. Seasonal factors, such as the post-holiday lull in retail activity, likely contributed to reduced shoplifting rates compared to December, though the 120% increase in January remains unexplained. This profile indicates a town where violent crime is a persistent concern but remains below national benchmarks, while public order issues may require closer attention given their deviation from average trends.

January 2024 saw sharp fluctuations in specific crime types, with shoplifting surging by 120% (from 5 to 11 incidents) – a stark contrast to the 57.9% drop in other theft (from 19 to 8). This spike in shoplifting, despite the post-holiday lull in retail footfall, suggests possible shifts in offender behaviour or targeted activity. Meanwhile, violent crime remained a dominant concern, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 33.3% of all reported incidents – 23% below the UK average. However, public order offences stood out as 46% above the UK average, potentially reflecting the impact of shorter daylight hours on community interactions. The 100% increase in possession of weapons and other crime (from 0 to 2 incidents each) adds an unusual layer to the month’s profile, though these figures remain small in absolute terms. These variations highlight the combination of local conditions and broader national trends, with Farnham’s crime picture illustrating both resilience and vulnerability in specific areas.

Farnham's crime rate in January 2024 rose 11.4% compared to December 2023, moving from 5.5 to 6.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in local dynamics. Daily crime activity averaged 4 incidents per day across 31 days, a figure that contextualises the pace of reported incidents in a small built-up area. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 164 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low density of crime in a town with a population of 20,709. This rate is lower than the UK average, yet the month-on-month rise suggests a potential realignment in local patterns, possibly influenced by seasonal factors such as post-holiday activity or changes in community engagement. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the significance of individual incidents within a tightly knit community, where even a small number of crimes can have a noticeable impact on residents' perceptions of safety.