Brandon Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Brandon (West Suffolk) recorded a crime rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents in October 2023, marking a 22.5% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This performance places the area among the safer built-up zones in the country, with crime levels significantly below national benchmarks. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 39.3% of all reported incidents, followed by public order (13.1%) and burglary (13.1%). Violent crime rates in Brandon (2.5 per 1,000) were 7% below the UK average for this category, suggesting effective local policing or community initiatives may be contributing to this trend. Seasonal factors appear to have influenced crime patterns, with the transition to darker evenings in October potentially impacting public order incidents. However, the area's overall safety profile remains strong, particularly in comparison to other parts of the UK where violent crime rates are consistently higher. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.6 per 1,000, was 53% below the UK average, indicating a lower prevalence of disruptive activities in the area. This contrast with the UK-wide trends highlights Brandon's unique characteristics as a relatively low-crime built-up area, where community cohesion and local infrastructure may play a role in maintaining lower levels of disorder. The data also shows a marked underrepresentation of property crime compared to national averages, with burglary rates 135% above the UK average but still remaining at a manageable level for a small town. These patterns suggest that while Brandon faces challenges in specific categories, its overall crime environment remains significantly safer than the national average.

October 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with burglary rates increasing by 700% compared to September, jumping from one incident to eight. This sharp rise may be influenced by seasonal factors such as Halloween, which often correlates with increased property crime in small towns. Conversely, anti-social behaviour decreased by 33.3%, dropping from nine to six incidents, potentially reflecting the impact of local initiatives or heightened community awareness during the month. The data also reveals an unusual spike in shoplifting, which doubled from zero to one incident, and a similar increase in theft from the person, both of which may be linked to increased foot traffic during the October retail period. Despite these increases, several categories remained well below UK averages: violence and sexual offences (7% below), anti-social behaviour (53% below), and criminal damage and arson (37% below). This contrast with the UK's broader trends underscores Brandon's distinct position as a relatively low-crime area, where violent crime rates are lower than the national average. The burglary rate, while 135% above the UK average, remains a small number in absolute terms (eight incidents), suggesting that while the category is overrepresented, its impact on the community is proportionally manageable.

Brandon's crime rate in October 2023 rose by 24.6% compared to September, moving from 5.0 to 6.2 per 1,000 residents. This increase, while notable, still leaves the area significantly below the UK average, with crime levels 22.5% lower than the national benchmark. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two reported crimes per day, a figure that translates to one crime occurring for roughly every 161 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides context for residents, showing that while the rate has increased, the absolute number of incidents remains low relative to the population size. When compared to other built-up areas in the UK, Brandon's performance highlights both strengths and challenges: while violent crime rates are below average, property crime categories like burglary are higher. This contrast may be attributed to the area's specific characteristics as a small town with a mix of residential and commercial zones, where property crime can be more concentrated than in larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that despite the 24.6% monthly increase, the overall crime environment remains markedly safer than the UK average, with residents facing a lower risk of encountering crime than those in other parts of the country.