Godalming Crime Rate June 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Godalming's crime rate in June 2024 stood at 4.3 per 1,000 residents, placing it 47.6% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This position as one of the safer areas in the country is reinforced by the distribution of crime types and seasonal context. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 26% of all incidents, followed by criminal damage and arson (24%) and anti-social behaviour (20%). The seasonal context of June—as the start of summer and a time when tourism begins to rise in nearby coastal and rural areas—may contribute to fluctuations in crime patterns. However, Godalming’s data shows a distinct profile shaped by its suburban character, with lower rates of violent crime and property crime compared to national benchmarks. The town's built-up area within Waverley, which includes a mix of residential and commercial zones, likely influences the types of offences recorded. For instance, the relatively low rate of shoplifting (0.1 per 1,000) may reflect the area's retail environment and community policing efforts. Similarly, the lower prevalence of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) could be attributed to the presence of secure parking infrastructure. While the rise in criminal damage and arson highlights a need for vigilance, the overall trend of reduced violent crime and property crime underscores the effectiveness of local crime prevention strategies. These factors collectively illustrate an area that, despite minor fluctuations, maintains a consistently safer profile compared to the UK average, particularly in categories such as violence and sexual offences, which are 60% below the national rate.

June 2024 saw a marked 75% reduction in shoplifting, with incidents falling from four to one—a shift that may partly reflect increased police visibility in retail areas or seasonal shifts in consumer behaviour during the early summer months. Conversely, criminal damage and arson surged by 500%, rising from two to 12 incidents—a stark anomaly that could indicate targeted vandalism or environmental factors linked to the start of the warmer season. Violence and sexual offences also decreased by 27.8%, aligning with a broader trend of reduced violent crime in built-up areas during the summer. Godalming’s rate for violence and sexual offences (1.1 per 1,000) is 60% below the UK average, illustrating a consistent gap in this category. The absence of bicycle theft in May, followed by a 100% increase in June, suggests a possible temporary spike in related activities, though the single incident does not yet indicate a sustained pattern. These fluctuations highlight the importance of monitoring specific crime categories to identify emerging trends or localized pressures.

Godalming's crime rate in June 2024 rose by 8.6% compared to the previous month, moving from 4.0 to 4.3 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, must be contextualised within the area's broader safety profile. The daily crime count averaged 2 incidents per day over the month, a figure that aligns with the expected pace of activity in a built-up area with a population of 11,597. Over the course of June, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 232 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in Godalming. This rate remains 47.6% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000, a gap that highlights the area's consistent safety record despite localised fluctuations. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that most residents are unlikely to encounter crime during their daily lives, even with the month-on-month rise. The comparison to national benchmarks also illustrates how Godalming's unique characteristics—its suburban layout, community-focused policing, and lower population density—contribute to its divergent crime profile compared to more densely populated urban centres.