Godalming Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

February 2024 marked a notable shift in Godalming’s crime profile, with a crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents—45.1% below the UK average of 7.1. The area’s overall safety remains a defining feature, though the month saw a mix of trends that reflect both seasonal and local factors. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime breakdown, contributing 26.7% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 22.2%. These figures align with Godalming’s character as a largely residential and commuter-oriented built-up area, where low outdoor activity in winter may contribute to higher indoor-related crimes. However, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting—despite the pre-spring lull—suggests potential pressures from unseasonal events or changes in community dynamics. Property crimes, which accounted for 37.8% of all incidents, remained relatively low, with shoplifting and criminal damage both 44% below UK averages. This could be attributed to the area’s lower retail density compared to major urban centres, though the 300% increase in shoplifting raises questions about targeted vulnerabilities. Violent crime, while still below the UK average, may reflect localized tensions exacerbated by the winter season. The data also highlights Godalming’s strong performance in reducing vehicle crime and burglary, which were 55% and 33% below the UK average, respectively—likely due to effective parking management and community policing efforts. Overall, the month illustrates a combination of seasonal trends and the area’s unique demographic and geographic context, with further monitoring needed to understand the drivers of the anti-social behaviour spike.

February 2024 saw a dramatic surge in anti-social behaviour, which rose by 233.3% from 3 to 10 incidents. This spike, coupled with a 300% increase in shoplifting (from 1 to 4 cases), underscores a significant shift in crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common category, accounting for 26.7% of total crimes, though they remained 60% below the UK average. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped sharply by 66.7% (from 6 to 2), possibly linked to reduced winter travel or improved security measures. The data also reveals that Godalming’s rates for criminal damage, shoplifting, and public order offences were all 44% below the UK average, highlighting the area’s comparatively lower incidence of these crimes. For residents, the 233.3% jump in anti-social behaviour is a stark reminder of the need for community vigilance and local engagement.

Godalming's crime rate in February 2024 rose by 32.4% compared to the previous month, climbing from 2.9 to 3.9 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though still significantly below the UK average of 7.1, suggests a shift in local dynamics. Daily crime context reveals that over 29 days, an average of two crimes were reported each day—equivalent to roughly one crime for every 258 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure provides a tangible sense of risk for residents, though it remains far lower than national benchmarks. The population-scaled perspective highlights Godalming’s relatively low crime environment, with fewer than 5% of residents experiencing a crime in February. However, the rise in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, as seen in the breakdown, may signal emerging pressures that warrant closer attention within the community.