Carterton Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Carterton's October 2023 crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents remains 32.5% below the UK average, a consistent trend reflecting the area's rural-adjacent built-up character. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, accounting for 56 of 100 total incidents (56% of all crimes), a rate of 3.0 per 1,000 that is 11% above the UK average. This concentration of violent crime, though lower than national levels, may be influenced by Carterton's role as a commuter hub for nearby Oxford, where higher population density and transient demographics could contribute to elevated violent incident rates. Property crimes, including criminal damage and arson (10 incidents, 0.5 per 1,000), vehicle crime (7 incidents, 0.4 per 1,000), and anti-social behaviour (7 incidents, 0.4 per 1,000), collectively formed 44% of total crimes. These figures sit significantly below UK averages—criminal damage and arson are 21% below the national rate, while anti-social behaviour is 69% lower. October's seasonal context, with clocks going back and darker evenings, may have influenced crime patterns, though the overall rate remains stable compared to previous months. The area's low population density and limited nightlife, typical of a rural-adjacent built-up area, likely contribute to its consistently lower crime rates compared to larger urban centres.

Violence and sexual offences accounted for 56 crimes in October, forming 56% of total incidents and 11% above the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. This concentration of violent crime, despite the overall low rate, may partly explain the area's heightened focus on community policing initiatives. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 46.2% (from 13 to 7 incidents), a shift that aligns with October's transition from summer to autumn, when public spaces see reduced evening activity. Vehicle crime surged by 133.3%, rising from 3 to 7 incidents—a jump that could reflect seasonal changes in parking patterns or increased motorist activity during the month. Bicycle theft doubled from 0 to 2 cases, a figure that, while small, may signal emerging vulnerabilities in local cycling infrastructure. Shoplifting and public order offences both fell sharply, with shoplifting dropping to 3 cases from 0 in September, a development consistent with Halloween's potential to deter retail crime through heightened police presence.

Carterton's October 2023 crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 19.1% increase from the previous month's 4.5 per 1,000. This rise, though notable, remains 32.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, underscoring the area's continued relative safety. Locally, 100 crimes were reported across 31 days, averaging three crimes per day—a figure that, while consistent with past months, reflects the town's low-density built-up character. Over the course of October, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 187 residents, a monthly exposure rate that highlights the infrequency of incidents in a community of 18,673 people. This statistic, when contextualised against Carterton's rural-adjacent setting and limited nightlife, suggests that most residents are unlikely to encounter crime directly. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that even with the month-on-month rise, Carterton's crime profile remains markedly different from larger urban centres, where daily crime rates are significantly higher.