Burghfield Common Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Burghfield Common, 6.6 crimes were reported in September 2023 — a rate 17.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This translates to roughly one reported crime for every 151 residents over the course of the month, or approximately one crime per day in this built-up area within West Berkshire. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 29.6% of all incidents (13 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (15.9%) and criminal damage and arson (15.9%). These figures align with the area's seasonal context: September typically sees increased activity as students return to university and nights draw in, potentially influencing patterns of antisocial behaviour. While property crimes made up 47.7% of the total (21 cases), violent crimes accounted for 29.6%, highlighting a notable shift in the crime mix compared to other areas where property crime dominates. The lower-than-average rate may reflect the area's semi-rural character, where community cohesion and lower population density could contribute to reduced opportunities for certain types of crime. However, the sharp increase in violence and sexual offences compared to August suggests seasonal factors — such as the start of the academic term — may be playing a role.

September 2023 saw a 225% increase in violence and sexual offences compared to August, with 13 cases reported (up from 4). This surge, while still below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000 (27% below), raises questions about local factors such as the return of university students to nearby institutions. Shoplifting also rose sharply by 200%, with 6 incidents reported (up from 2), placing Burghfield Common 61% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 for this category. This may be linked to the area's retail presence, though the relatively low overall rate suggests that local businesses may have effective security measures in place. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 33.3% (from 3 to 2 incidents), bringing the rate 38% below the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. This decline could reflect the area's semi-rural nature, where vehicle theft opportunities are limited compared to more densely populated regions. The most striking UK comparison is in criminal damage and arson, which were 83% above the national average (1.1 vs 0.6 per 1,000), indicating a localised issue that may require targeted interventions. These shifts in the crime mix — with violent crime rising and property crime remaining stable — suggest a combination of seasonal and community-specific factors.

The crime rate in Burghfield Common rose sharply from 3.8 per 1,000 in August to 6.6 per 1,000 in September, a 76.1% increase. This jump, while still 17.5% below the UK average, highlights the volatility of crime patterns in this built-up area. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day in September — a figure that, while low, could be concerning for residents given the concentrated nature of incidents. Over the course of the month, one in every 151 residents in Burghfield Common experienced a reported crime, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average but still significant for a small community. This statistic provides a tangible sense of risk: for someone living in Burghfield Common, the chance of being directly affected by crime in September was roughly 0.66%, compared to the UK average of around 0.8%. However, the sharp increase from August suggests that the area's crime dynamics are sensitive to seasonal changes, such as the return of students to nearby universities or the impact of darker evenings on community activity. The population context — with 6,629 residents — means that even small absolute numbers of crimes can have a visible impact on local perceptions of safety, particularly when concentrated in specific categories like violence and sexual offences.