Burghfield Common Crime Rate June 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Burghfield Common's crime rate in June 2024 stood at 5.7 per 1,000 residents, 30.5% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This performance highlights the area's relatively low crime profile, consistent with its status as a small built-up area within West Berkshire. Anti-social behaviour dominated the crime profile, accounting for 36.8% of all reported incidents, a figure significantly higher than the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000 (2.1 per 1,000 locally). This category's prominence may reflect local social dynamics, such as community interactions in public spaces. Violence and sexual offences followed, making up 26.3% of crimes, a rate 46% below the UK average. This discrepancy could be attributed to the area's limited nightlife and commercial activity, which may reduce opportunities for such offences. Other theft (13.2%) and vehicle crime (7.9%) also featured prominently, with the latter 11% above the UK average—linked to local transport infrastructure or seasonal vehicle usage patterns. The overall crime mix showed a slight tilt toward property-related offences, though both property and violent crime rates remain well below national benchmarks. Seasonal factors may have played a role: June, the start of summer, often sees shifts in crime patterns, with some categories declining as tourism and outdoor activity increase. However, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour suggests other influences, such as local events or community tensions, may have contributed. The area's low crime rate, combined with its modest population and rural-adjacent character, likely reflects a combination of effective policing, community cohesion, and the natural limitations of a small built-up area in reducing opportunities for crime.

June 2024 saw a 200% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 1 to 3 incidents, and a 150% surge in other theft, jumping from 2 to 5 cases. These spikes contrast with a 92.9% drop in shoplifting, which fell from 14 to 1 incident, likely reflecting seasonal shifts in retail activity and visitor patterns. Anti-social behaviour, the most common crime type, rose by 55.6% compared to May, reaching 14 cases—50% above the UK average for this category. Meanwhile, public order offences dropped by two-thirds, and criminal damage and arson fell by 25%, possibly linked to the start of summer and reduced outdoor gatherings. The crime mix also shifted, with property crimes (34.2%) slightly outpacing violent crimes (26.3%), though both categories remain below the UK average for their respective types. For residents, the sharp decline in shoplifting may indicate a reduction in tourist-related theft, a useful insight for local businesses.

Burghfield Common's crime rate in June 2024 fell by 19.2% compared to May, dropping from 7.1 to 5.7 per 1,000 residents. This decline places the area 30.5% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000, a consistent trend for the region. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day over the month, reflecting a low-frequency pattern typical of smaller built-up areas. When scaled to the population of 6,629, the monthly exposure means one reported crime occurred for roughly every 174 residents—a figure that underscores the relatively low risk compared to larger urban centres. This rate is further contextualised by the area's compact size and limited commercial activity, which likely reduces opportunities for certain types of crime. The shift from May to June also aligns with the start of summer, a period when some crime types may ease due to seasonal patterns, though local factors such as community engagement and policing strategies may also contribute to the decline.