Brandon (West Suffolk) Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

November 2023 saw Brandon (West Suffolk) maintain a lower crime rate than the UK average, with 4.3 crimes per 1,000 residents compared to the national figure of 7.5. Despite this, violent crime emerged as a significant concern, accounting for 54.8% of all reported incidents—23 cases involving violence and sexual offences. This category was 11% below the UK average, but the overall rise in violent crime during the month warrants attention, particularly as November's dark evenings and seasonal events like Bonfire Night may contribute to increased tensions in public spaces. Property crime, while lower than violent crime, also featured prominently, with other theft (9 cases) and shoplifting (2 cases) drawing particular focus. The sharp increase in other theft, though small in absolute numbers, signals a shift in criminal activity patterns that could be linked to Black Friday shopping activity. The area's overall safety profile remains strong, with burglary, criminal damage, and anti-social behaviour all significantly below UK averages. However, the concentration of violent crime in the data suggests targeted awareness efforts may be needed to address local factors influencing such incidents.

November 2023 marked a stark increase in other theft, with cases surging by 200% from 3 to 9—a jump that outpaced all other crime category changes. This rise, coupled with a 100% increase in shoplifting, points to a shift in criminal priorities that may be influenced by the holiday shopping season. While violent crime remained the most prevalent category (54.8% of total crimes), its rate of 2.3 per 1,000 was 11% below the UK average, suggesting local factors may be moderating its impact. Conversely, other theft's rate of 0.9 per 1,000 was 45% above the UK average for that category, highlighting a regional anomaly. The sharp decline in burglary (down 87.5%) and anti-social behaviour (down 83.3%) indicates that some crime prevention measures may be working, though the reasons for this drop remain unclear. Residents should note that while overall crime remains low, the spike in theft-related incidents—especially in retail contexts—may require heightened vigilance during peak shopping periods.

Brandon's crime rate in November 2023 (4.3 per 1,000) represented a 31.2% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.2 per 1,000, reflecting a significant downward trend. This decline, combined with the area's already low crime profile, means that on a daily basis, roughly one crime is reported for every 30 days—equating to a local figure of 1 crime per day. Over the course of the month, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 234 residents, a statistic that places Brandon in stark contrast to areas with higher monthly exposure rates. With a population of 9,814, the area's small size means that each resident is statistically more likely to be directly affected by crime than in larger urban centres, though the overall low rate suggests effective community policing or other local initiatives may be at play. The comparison to the UK average—42.7% below—further underscores Brandon's relative safety, though the recent spikes in specific crime categories highlight the need for continued monitoring of local trends.