Brandon (West Suffolk) Crime Rate March 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Brandon (West Suffolk) recorded a crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents in March 2024, a figure 3.9% below the UK average of 7.7. This rate reflects a 40.4% increase from February’s 5.3 per 1,000, marking a notable shift in the area’s crime profile. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (31 incidents, 42.5% of total), followed by property crimes (23 incidents). The seasonal transition to spring, with longer evenings and the clocks changing, may have influenced these patterns. Violence and sexual offences in Brandon were 20% above the UK average, while criminal damage and arson were 90% above the national figure. This suggests localized factors, such as community tensions or environmental conditions, could be contributing to these trends. In contrast, anti-social behaviour was 48% below the UK average, and shoplifting and burglary fell significantly, with shoplifting 67% below the national rate. The interplay between these shifts underscores the complexity of crime dynamics in a built-up area of rural Suffolk, where seasonal changes and local characteristics likely shape the crime profile. The overall rate, while rising month-on-month, remains relatively low compared to the UK average, indicating that Brandon’s built-up area maintains a generally safer profile despite recent fluctuations.

March 2024 saw a dramatic 1,000% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from one incident to 11. This surge, coupled with a 500% rise in anti-social behaviour (from one to six incidents), suggests a shift in local dynamics. Violent crimes remained the most prevalent category, contributing 42.5% of all reported incidents, a figure 20% above the UK average for violence and sexual offences. Conversely, shoplifting and burglary both fell by 33.3%, aligning with the UK average for burglary but significantly below for shoplifting (67% below). Vehicle crime also dropped sharply, declining by 71.4% from seven to two incidents. These contrasting trends highlight the uneven nature of crime fluctuations, with property-related offences decreasing while public order and anti-social behaviour increased. Residents may find the 1,000% rise in criminal damage and arson particularly noteworthy, as it far exceeds the UK average for this category by 90%.

Brandon’s crime rate rose by 40.4% from 5.3 to 7.4 per 1,000 residents in March 2024 compared to the previous month, marking the first significant increase in the series. Daily crime statistics show an average of two reported crimes per day in the built-up area, a figure that may reflect local patterns rather than broader trends. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 134 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Brandon’s experience in context with its population of 9,814. This figure highlights the relatively low frequency of crime on a per-resident basis, despite the month-on-month rise. The increase appears to be concentrated in violent and property-related offences, with no corresponding surge in other categories. While the overall rate remains 3.9% below the UK average, the shift in crime composition—particularly the spike in criminal damage and arson—suggests localized factors may have contributed to the change. These findings contrast with the previous month’s stability, indicating a potential seasonal influence as the area transitions into spring.