Godalming Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Godalming's crime rate in October 2024 stood at 3.7 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 54.3% below the UK average of 8.1. This stark contrast highlights the area's consistently lower crime profile compared to national trends, though the composition of crimes offers nuanced insights. Violence and sexual offences accounted for the largest share of reported incidents (37.2%), followed by anti-social behaviour (23.3%) and public order offences (11.6%). These figures suggest a focus on interpersonal and community-level issues rather than property crime, which collectively made up just 23.3% of all recorded crimes. Seasonal factors may have influenced these patterns, with October's darker evenings and Halloween potentially contributing to the rise in public order offences. However, the area's low overall rate may reflect a combination of proactive policing, community engagement, or the built-up nature of Godalming itself, which could reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.7 per 1,000, meaning Godalming's rate of 1.4 per 1,000 is 48% below the national benchmark—a gap that suggests local initiatives may be effectively addressing this category. Similarly, anti-social behaviour in Godalming (0.9 per 1,000) is 30% below the UK average of 1.3, indicating a broader trend of reduced disorderly conduct. These statistics illustrate a relatively safe community, though the 400% increase in public order offences underscores the need for targeted interventions to manage seasonal fluctuations. The overall crime picture remains one of controlled low levels, with no single category dominating the data to the extent seen in more densely populated or high-risk areas.

Public order offences saw an unprecedented 400% increase in October 2024, rising from 1 to 5 incidents. This jump, while statistically dramatic, may be linked to seasonal factors such as Halloween and the transition to darker evenings, which can heighten community tensions or alter public behaviour in shared spaces. Conversely, shoplifting fell by two-thirds, dropping from 3 to 1 incident—a decline that contrasts with the UK average for this category, which Godalming is 86% below. The drop in burglary (50%) and other crime (50%) suggests possible improvements in local security measures or reduced opportunities for property-related offences, though these decreases must be interpreted cautiously without additional contextual data. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 37.2% of all crimes, but still 48% below the UK average. This mix of rising and falling categories illustrates the complexity of local crime patterns, where some trends align with national trends and others diverge sharply.

Godalming's crime rate in October 2024 fell by 20.4% compared to September, dropping from 4.7 to 3.7 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with a broader trend of reduced crime across the area, though the pace of change varied by category. On a daily basis, 1 crime was reported per day in Godalming over October—a figure that, while low, reflects the area's consistently below-average crime profile. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime for roughly every 270 residents over the course of the month. Such a monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, which would likely see a higher frequency of incidents in a similar-sized community. The population context further highlights the area's relative safety: with 11,597 residents, the low absolute number of crimes (43) underscores the effectiveness of local policing strategies or community initiatives that may have contributed to the sustained reduction in crime. However, this does not preclude the possibility of localized spikes in specific categories, as seen in the month-on-month data.