Witney Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 26,834, Witney recorded 203 crimes in July 2023, translating to 7.6 crimes per 1,000 residents. This rate is 8.4% below the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000, reflecting a relatively safer environment compared to the national picture. The most common crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 29.1% of total incidents (59 cases), followed by other theft (13.3%) and anti-social behaviour (12.3%). The seasonal context of July—peak summer with schools out, tourism, and festivals—likely influenced these patterns. Violence and sexual offences, while still significant, were 21% below the UK average, possibly due to local policing efforts or community engagement initiatives. Conversely, other theft and shoplifting were higher than the UK average, with shoplifting cases 50% above the national rate. This could be attributed to increased foot traffic during summer events. Anti-social behaviour, while lower than the UK average, may have been exacerbated by the influx of visitors during July festivals, highlighting the combination of tourism and local crime dynamics. The overall crime rate, though slightly lower than the UK average, suggests that Witney’s built-up area within West Oxfordshire maintains a distinct crime profile shaped by its demographic and seasonal rhythms.

July 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with other crime and drug-related incidents both increasing by 400% compared to the previous month. This jump—from 1 to 5 cases for other crime and from 2 to 10 for drug offences—raises questions about potential new factors influencing local patterns. Conversely, theft from the person plummeted by 83.3%, dropping from 6 to 1 incident, a shift that may be partly explained by increased police patrols or community awareness during the summer season. Violence and sexual offences also decreased by 15.7%, from 70 to 59 cases, a trend that could align with seasonal changes in social activity or improved crime prevention measures. Witney’s shoplifting rate was 50% above the UK average, with 25 cases recorded, while other theft also exceeded the national rate by 52%. These discrepancies suggest that local retail environments or event-driven foot traffic may be contributing factors. Meanwhile, vehicle crime was 58% below the UK average, reflecting Witney’s lower density of car parks or higher levels of vehicle security. The sharp rise in possession of weapons—up 150% from 2 to 5 cases—remains an outlier, with no clear local context provided to explain this spike.

Witney’s crime rate in July 2023 rose by 20.2% compared to the previous month, increasing from 6.3 to 7.6 per 1,000 residents. This monthly increase, though modest, translates to roughly 7 crimes per day across Witney’s 26,834 residents, highlighting the daily reality of crime in the area. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for every 132 residents, a figure that, while seemingly low, underscores the cumulative impact of criminal activity on local communities. This monthly exposure rate is particularly relevant for residents, as it provides a tangible measure of the likelihood of encountering crime within their immediate environment. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that Witney’s overall crime rate remains below the UK average, even with the recent increase. However, the sharp rise in specific categories—such as other crime and drug offences—suggests that certain localised pressures may be intensifying. While these figures do not directly compare to national daily or monthly averages, they offer a snapshot of how Witney’s crime profile differs from the broader UK context. The combination of a higher-than-average shoplifting rate and a lower-than-average vehicle crime rate further illustrates the unique interplay between Witney’s built-up area characteristics and its seasonal dynamics during July.