West Suffolk Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For an area with a population of 188,485, 1,037 crimes reported in June 2023 equate to 5.5 crimes per 1,000 residents. This rate is 35.3% below the UK average of 8.5 per 1,000, a significant gap that reflects broader patterns in West Suffolk’s crime profile. Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime profile, accounting for 43.5% of all incidents (451 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (13.8%, 143 cases) and criminal damage and arson (8.0%, 83 cases). These figures suggest a focus on interpersonal and property-related issues rather than high-level economic or cybercrime. Seasonal factors may play a role in this distribution: June marks the start of the summer season, when tourism begins to rise in rural areas and longer daylight hours could influence both crime patterns and community activity. While violent crime remains the most prevalent category, the overall rate of 5.5 per 1,000 is lower than the UK average, likely reflecting the district’s character as a largely rural and suburban area with lower population density and fewer high-risk urban environments. The breakdown also shows that property crimes (295 cases) are less than half of the total, a contrast to urban centres where property crime often dominates. This mix of crime types may be influenced by local demographics, with smaller towns and villages experiencing different dynamics compared to major cities. The relatively low levels of vehicle crime (24 cases, 0.1 per 1,000) and burglary (27 cases, 0.1 per 1,000) further support the idea that West Suffolk’s crime profile is shaped by its geographic and social context, where community cohesion and lower population density may contribute to reduced opportunities for certain types of crime.

June 2023 saw notable shifts in crime trends, with vehicle crime increasing by 33.3% (18 to 24 cases) and anti-social behaviour rising by 30.0% (110 to 143 cases). These increases may be linked to seasonal changes, such as the start of summer holidays or increased outdoor activity in rural areas. Conversely, robbery decreased by 50.0% (from 4 to 2 cases), a drop that could reflect heightened community awareness or improved local policing efforts. The category of violence and sexual offences, while still the most common crime type, was 18% below the UK average (2.4 per 1,000 vs 2.9 per 1,000), suggesting that local initiatives or environmental factors may be reducing the incidence of violent crime. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.8 per 1,000, was 46% below the UK average of 1.5 per 1,000, a gap that may indicate effective community engagement or lower population density reducing opportunities for such incidents. The sharp decline in possession of weapons (from 21 to 14 cases, -33.3%) is another positive trend, though the small number of cases means this change should be interpreted with caution. Residents may find the 38% reduction in vehicle crime particularly relevant, as this category has seen the largest increase in recent months and could impact local safety perceptions.

West Suffolk’s crime rate in June 2023 (5.5 per 1,000) represented a 12.7% increase from the previous month’s rate of 4.9 per 1,000, a rise that may be attributed to seasonal factors or temporary fluctuations in reporting. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 35 crimes per day in June, a figure that provides a tangible sense of local activity but remains lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 182 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average and suggests a relatively safe environment for West Suffolk’s population. When considering the population-scaled perspective, the 5.5 per 1,000 rate translates to a manageable level of risk for individuals. month-on-month increase highlights the need for continued monitoring. This rate is particularly significant when compared to the UK average, where residents face a 35.3% higher risk of crime. The daily context of 35 crimes per day, while seemingly high, is proportionally lower in West Suffolk due to its smaller population compared to major urban centres. These comparisons illustrate that while the area is not immune to crime, its overall profile is distinct from the national average, shaped by its rural and suburban character and lower population density.