Waverley Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences remain the dominant category in Waverley's crime profile for October 2024, accounting for 36.5% of all reported crimes. This category, at 1.4 per 1,000 residents, is 48% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. The overall crime rate for the area stands at 3.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 53.1% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour follows closely at 16.9% of total crimes, with a rate of 0.6 per 1,000 — 53% below the UK average. The seasonal context of October, with clocks going back and darker evenings, may partly explain the persistent focus on violence and public order offences, which often escalate during periods of reduced visibility. While property crimes such as shoplifting and burglary remain relatively low — 86% and 70% below UK averages respectively — the violence category's prominence suggests ongoing challenges in maintaining public safety in community spaces. The area's lower-than-average crime rates across most categories could reflect a combination of effective policing, community engagement, and the characteristics of Waverley itself as a mixed-use district with lower population density and fewer high-risk environments compared to larger urban centres. However, the seasonal factor of Halloween, with its associated increased foot traffic and potential for disorder, may have contributed to the sustained presence of violence and anti-social behaviour in the data.

October 2024 saw significant increases in three categories: drugs offences rose by 550% (from 2 to 13), theft from the person doubled (from 1 to 3), and 'other crime' increased by 175% (from 8 to 22). These jumps, while not reflected in the overall rate, highlight specific emerging trends. Shoplifting — a category typically associated with retail environments — fell by 44.4% (from 27 to 15), suggesting possible seasonal moderation in opportunistic theft during the month. Burglary also declined by 37.9% (from 29 to 18), potentially linked to October's reduced visibility and shorter evenings deterring intrusions. The violence and sexual offences category, though dominant, remains 48% below the UK average, a gap consistent with Waverley's overall safety profile. A resident might find the 13 reported drugs offences particularly noteworthy, as this represents a stark departure from the previous month's 2 cases and could indicate a shift in local patterns. Meanwhile, the 100% deficit in robbery and theft from the person compared to UK averages suggests that Waverley's public spaces remain relatively secure for personal property, despite the specific increases noted in October.

Waverley's crime rate in October 2024 rose by 8.9% from the previous month's 3.5 per 1,000, reflecting a modest upward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 16 crimes per day — a local figure that provides context for residents but cannot be directly compared to UK-wide daily averages. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 263 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in Waverley compared to the UK's average of 8.1 per 1,000. This 1-in-263 ratio, when considered alongside the 134,284 population, illustrates that the likelihood of any individual encountering crime remains significantly lower than the national average. The increase from September to October, while statistically notable, is still within a range that does not suggest a major shift in the area's safety profile. Population-scaled analysis reveals that Waverley's crime prevention strategies — whether through policing, community initiatives, or environmental design — appear to be maintaining their effectiveness despite the month-on-month rise. The 8.9% increase is unlikely to reflect a systemic breakdown but may instead reflect transient factors such as seasonal transitions or temporary spikes in specific categories like drugs offences. This comparative perspective reinforces the idea that Waverley's crime picture remains fundamentally distinct from the UK's broader trends.