Burghfield Common Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in Burghfield Common during April 2024, accounting for 26.1% of all reported crimes. This category, which includes 6 incidents, remains significantly below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 residents — a 65% deficit that reinforces the area's overall safety. The second most common category was anti-social behaviour, with 5 incidents (21.7% of total crimes), also well below the UK average of 1.2 per 1,000. Other theft (4 incidents) made up the third-largest share (17.4%), though this category was 7% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. The low crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents — 54.5% below the UK average — reflects the area's character as a small, built-up community within West Berkshire, likely with limited commercial density and a stable residential population. Seasonal factors in April, including the Easter holiday and milder spring weather, may have influenced patterns: increased outdoor activity could explain the rise in shoplifting and bicycle theft, while reduced public gatherings during the Easter break may have contributed to the decline in anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. The data suggests that the area's low population density and its proximity to natural landscapes could contribute to its relatively safe environment, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections.

April 2024 saw a significant rise in 'other crime' — a category that tripled from zero to three incidents. This includes unclassified offences that may reflect evolving criminal activity or underreporting. Bicycle theft also doubled from zero to one incident, a spike that may be attributed to seasonal changes in outdoor activity. Shoplifting increased by 100%, rising from one to two incidents, influenced by Easter-related retail activity. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by two-thirds, from six to two incidents, which could be linked to the holiday period reducing opportunities for such offences. Anti-social behaviour decreased by 16.7%, a decline consistent with the Easter break reducing public gatherings. Violence and sexual offences remain 65% below the UK average, with six incidents recorded — a figure that suggests the area's overall safety profile is reinforced by its lower rates of violent crime.

Burghfield Common's crime rate in April 2024 dropped by 17.8% compared to March, falling from 4.2 to 3.5 per 1,000 residents. This decline positions the area as one of the safest in the UK, with its rate 54.5% below the national average. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day in April, a figure that reflects the low overall volume of incidents. When considering the population context, this translates to one reported crime occurring for every 288 residents over the course of the month — a statistic that underscores the relatively low risk of experiencing crime. The reduction in criminal damage and arson by 66.7% may be linked to seasonal factors, such as the Easter holiday period reducing opportunities for such offences. Meanwhile, the population-scaled perspective highlights that even with the small number of crimes, the impact is distributed across a community of 6,629 residents, offering a sense of proportionality to local residents.