Bury St Edmunds Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2024, Bury St Edmunds recorded a crime rate of 7.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 5.4% above the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This rate, though not alarmingly high, reflects a persistent challenge for the area, particularly in violent and property crimes. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, accounting for 37.7% of all incidents (122 cases), followed closely by criminal damage and arson (10.2%) and other theft (9.9%). These figures align with the town’s character as a historic market town with a mix of residential and retail areas, where public spaces may be more vulnerable to certain types of crime. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday, with shorter days and reduced retail footfall—likely contributed to a lower incidence of shoplifting and outdoor crimes typically associated with busier periods. However, the higher-than-average rates for violence and criminal damage suggest ongoing pressures that may be tied to local demographics, such as transient populations or limited policing resources during off-peak hours. While the overall rate remains within a manageable range, the concentration of violent crimes highlights a need for targeted interventions, such as increased community policing in high-risk areas or partnerships with local businesses to enhance security measures. The comparison with the UK average also underscores that while Bury St Edmunds is not an outlier, its specific challenges require tailored approaches to address the root causes of its crime profile.

January 2024 saw a notable 120% increase in 'other crime' reports, rising from 5 to 11 incidents, while robbery rates doubled from 0 to 1. These spikes, though small in absolute terms, may reflect underreported issues or shifts in criminal activity patterns. Conversely, bicycle theft fell by 57.1% (from 7 to 3), possibly linked to reduced outdoor activity during shorter daylight hours. The category of 'other theft' (9.9% of total crimes) and 'criminal damage and arson' (10.2%) both exceeded UK averages by 40%, indicating persistent challenges in these areas. Meanwhile, 'anti-social behaviour' (8.6% of total crimes) was 29% below the UK average, suggesting local efforts in community engagement may be effective. The 5.4% overall rate above the UK average, though modest, underscores the need for continued focus on reducing violent and property crimes, which together accounted for 73.7% of all incidents.

Bury St Edmunds' crime rate in January 2024 stood at 7.8 per 1,000 residents, a 6.9% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.4 per 1,000. This decline, while modest, suggests a possible seasonal shift as January’s shorter days and post-holiday retail quietude may have reduced opportunities for certain crimes. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 10 reported crimes per day, translating to a 1-in-128 chance of a resident being directly affected by crime over the course of the month. When scaled to the population of 41,577, this monthly exposure highlights that the vast majority of residents remain unaffected. above the UK average. The population context also reveals that while the crime rate is relatively high compared to the UK, the absolute number of crimes (324) is manageable for a town of this size, with targeted policing efforts likely playing a role in curbing the most severe incidents. The contrast with the previous month’s figures underscores the fluctuating nature of crime, influenced by both local dynamics and broader seasonal trends.