Great Shefford Crime Rate

Great Shefford is a highly secure urban settlement within West Berkshire, boasting an overall crime rate of 33.1 per 1,000 people for the period of January 2025 to December 2025. This rate is far below the UK national average of 91.6, resulting in an excellent safety score of 91/100. While the area is statistically very safe, there has been a 9.1% increase in reported crime year-over-year. This upward trend, though starting from a very low baseline, suggests that residents should remain mindful of local security. With a small population of 1,452, the village maintains a close-knit feel where crime is infrequent but notable when it occurs. The following sections provide a detailed analysis of local crime types, trends, and safety recommendations.

In Great Shefford, the crime breakdown is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 35.4% of all reports (11.7 per 1,000). This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 16.7% and burglary at 12.5%. Property-related crime overall—including burglary, vehicle crime, criminal damage, and theft—occurs at a rate of 13.8 per 1,000 residents. While this is significantly lower than the UK average of 32.2, the fact that burglary is the third most common crime type is noteworthy for a small settlement. Other theft also accounts for 12.5% of local reports. For residents, this means that while the total volume of crime is low, property security should be a priority. The combination of burglary and vehicle crime (6.2%) suggests that opportunistic criminals may target the area due to its perceived quiet nature. Maintaining vigilant home and vehicle security is essential for protecting against these specific property threats.

The annual crime trend for Great Shefford shows a 9.1% increase compared to the previous year. Analysis of the monthly data for 2025 reveals that crime remains very low in volume, meaning small changes in incident numbers can appear as significant percentage shifts. The year started quietly with rates of 2.1 in January and 2.8 in February. A notable peak occurred in August, reaching 5.5 per 1,000 residents, followed by another spike in November to 4.8. Conversely, months like May and July saw the rate drop as low as 1.4. This data suggests that criminal activity in the village is sporadic rather than constant, with occasional months of higher reports interspersed with very quiet periods. For residents, this means that while the overall environment is safe, maintaining consistent security throughout the year is important to protect against these unpredictable peaks in activity.

How To Keep Safe in Great Shefford

The most common crime in Great Shefford is violence and sexual offences, though burglary is also a significant local concern. By taking a few proactive steps, residents can help maintain the village's high safety standards.

1. Secure Your Home at All Times: With burglary accounting for 12.5% of local crime, ensure all doors and windows are locked, even when you are at home or just stepping out briefly.
2. Be Mindful of Outbuildings: Theft often targets sheds and garages in rural areas. Use high-quality padlocks and consider alarmed locks for these spaces to protect tools and bicycles.
3. Optimise Evening Lighting: As burglary and vehicle crime proportions rise at night, ensure your property has motion-activated lighting to eliminate dark spots where intruders could hide.
4. Stay Aware in Public: When walking through the village, stay alert to your surroundings. While violence is the top crime type, it is often avoidable through situational awareness and avoiding isolated areas after dark.
5. Vehicle Security: Never leave valuables on display in your car. Even small items can tempt opportunistic thieves, particularly during the night-time hours when vehicle crime is more prevalent.

Crime in Great Shefford follows distinct temporal shifts that are important for residents to understand. During the morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft-related offences are the most common, making up 41% and 42% of reports respectively. This indicates that opportunistic crimes often occur during peak activity hours. However, as the day transitions into evening (6pm - 12am) and night (12am - 6am), the nature of crime shifts toward property intrusion and vehicle offences. Specifically, burglary accounts for 35% of evening crimes and peaks at 39% during the night-time hours. Vehicle crime also sees a significant increase at night, reaching 31% of all incidents. These patterns suggest that while daytime vigilance should focus on general theft, the most critical time for home and vehicle security is from dusk through to the early morning.

Great Shefford is located in an exceptionally quiet pocket of West Berkshire. When compared to its immediate neighbours—East Garston, Welford, Chaddleworth, and Eastbury—it is the only area that reported any significant criminal activity, as all four of those nearby hamlets recorded a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 people. While Great Shefford's rate of 33.1 is higher than these zero-crime areas, it remains one of the safest urban settlements in the wider local authority. For those seeking a rural lifestyle, Great Shefford offers a high level of security while being slightly more active than its most isolated neighbouring villages.

With burglary and other theft appearing as top-three concerns in Great Shefford, residents should consider the effectiveness of their current security. Traditional CCTV systems often only provide footage of a crime after it has occurred, which is reactive and often fails to prevent the loss of property. For a settlement where the property crime rate is 13.8 per 1,000, proactive protection is a much stronger deterrent. The scOS AI-powered operating system focuses on prevention by detecting threats at the property boundary. Its multi-camera intelligence monitors all angles simultaneously, identifying suspicious patterns and unauthorised vehicles via DVLA verification. If a threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger lights and speakers, deterring a potential burglar before they even reach your door. In an area like Great Shefford, where criminals may expect low levels of security, the visible and active deterrence of scOS makes your home an unattractive target, ensuring you stay protected rather than just recorded.