Burghfield Common Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Burghfield Common, a built-up area within West Berkshire, recorded 52 crimes in October 2023 — a rate of 7.8 per 1,000 residents, 2.5% below the UK average of 8.0. This figure translates to roughly one crime for every 127 residents over the course of the month, highlighting the direct impact of incidents on this small community. The crime profile shows a stark contrast between violent and property offences, with violence and sexual offences dominating at 25 cases (48.1% of total crimes), followed by shoplifting (21.2%) and public order issues (11.5%). This mix suggests a local context where interpersonal conflicts and retail environments intersect, potentially influenced by October's seasonal factors such as darker evenings and Halloween. The UK comparison is particularly notable for shoplifting, which was 193% above the national average of 0.6 per 1,000 — a figure that may reflect local retail activity or specific vulnerabilities in high-traffic areas. However, the area's overall safety remains slightly better than the UK average, with anti-social behaviour rates 30% below the national benchmark. Seasonal context may partly explain the rise in violent crime, as shorter daylight hours and holidays could increase opportunities for such incidents. The data also shows that vehicle crime and criminal damage fell sharply, linked to reduced outdoor activity or seasonal shifts in focus. These patterns underscore the need for targeted local initiatives while maintaining the area's relative safety position compared to the UK as a whole.

October 2023 saw a 92.3% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 13 to 25 incidents — the most significant jump in any category. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in public order offences (from 3 to 6), suggests a shift in crime mix towards more immediate, interpersonal incidents. Shoplifting remained the second-highest category, with 11 cases — 193% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This stark discrepancy may partly explain the overall rise in violent crime, as retail areas could have seen heightened pressure during October's darker evenings and Halloween. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 71.4% (from 7 to 2), and vehicle crime dropped by 50%, indicating potential seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity. Residents should note that violence and sexual offences now account for 48.1% of all crimes, a significant shift from the previous month's balance.

Burghfield Common's crime rate rose by 18.1% from 6.6 to 7.8 per 1,000 residents in October 2023 compared to the previous month. This increase, though modest, translates to 52 total crimes over 31 days — an average of 2 crimes per day in this built-up area of 6,629 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 127 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. While this monthly exposure is lower than the UK average daily crime rate (which is not available for this area), the rate of increase in October suggests a shift in local patterns. The population-scaled perspective reveals that 7.8 crimes per 1,000 residents is equivalent to 52 incidents across a community of under 7,000 people, making each occurrence proportionally significant for residents. This context helps frame the statistics as both a reflection of local dynamics and a benchmark for understanding relative safety trends.