Godalming Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Godalming's crime rate in May 2024 was 4.0 per 1,000, a figure 52.4% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area's consistently lower crime profile compared to the national context. Violence and sexual offences were the most prevalent category, accounting for 39.1% of all reported crimes (18 incidents). This rate of 1.6 per 1,000 is 44% below the UK average for this category, a disparity that may reflect the town's character as a relatively stable, low-density built-up area with limited exposure to high-risk environments. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 19.6% of the total (9 incidents), with a rate of 0.8 per 1,000—45% below the UK average. The seasonal context of May, marked by bank holidays and extended daylight hours, likely contributed to the mix of crimes observed. While longer evenings may have encouraged outdoor socialising, the absence of a corresponding rise in public order offences (which fell by 84.6%) suggests that local factors, such as community engagement or policing efforts, may have mitigated potential risks. The low rate of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) and shoplifting (0.3 per 1,000) further reinforces the area's position as one of the safest in the UK, though the 100% increase in these categories from the previous month indicates areas requiring vigilance. The overall crime profile remains heavily skewed toward violent crime, which may be influenced by the town's proximity to larger urban centres or the presence of specific demographics that contribute to such incidents.

May 2024 saw a 100% increase in vehicle crime and burglary compared to the previous month, with both categories rising from 2 to 4 incidents. This uptick may partly explain the slight shift in the crime mix, though property crimes still account for only 32.6% of the total (15 out of 46), with violent crimes dominating at 39.1%. Shoplifting, meanwhile, fell by 50.0% (from 8 to 4), a decrease that aligns with the broader trend of property crimes remaining below UK averages. The most striking outlier remains violence and sexual offences, which occurred at a rate of 1.6 per 1,000—44% below the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000. This contrast highlights the area's relatively safer profile for violent crime despite the seasonal increase in outdoor activity. Residents may find the 84.6% drop in public order offences particularly noteworthy, suggesting a reduction in disturbances that could be linked to May's bank holidays and longer evenings.

Godalming's crime rate in May 2024 dropped by 22.0% from the previous month's 5.1 per 1,000 to 4.0 per 1,000, reflecting a consistent trend of declining incidents. Over the 31 days of May, the area recorded roughly 1 crime per day, a figure that aligns with the low overall rate. When considering the population of 11,597, this translates to one reported crime for every 252 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure, while specific to Godalming, underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in the area compared to national averages. The reduction in public order offences by 84.6% (from 13 to 2) suggests a marked improvement in community safety, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as bank holidays and reduced outdoor activity. However, the rise in vehicle crime and burglary by 100% each indicates areas requiring closer attention, though these remain well below UK averages for their respective categories.