West Suffolk Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

West Suffolk's crime rate in September 2023 stood at 6.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 22.5% below the UK average of 8.0. This performance highlights the district's relative safety compared to the national picture, a position reinforced by its lower-than-average rates for several key crime categories. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 42.1% of all reported incidents, yet remaining 5% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.8 per 1,000, was 40% below the national figure, suggesting effective local measures in managing disruptive conduct. The seasonal context of September, marked by the return to school and university freshers, may have influenced crime patterns. The district's lower rates for vehicle crime (38% below UK average) and burglary (69% below) reflect its rural character, where opportunities for such offences are limited. This combination of factors—seasonal transitions, community dynamics, and geographic context—illustrates a district with a crime profile that diverges from the UK average in both magnitude and composition.

September saw a 250% increase in robbery, rising from 2 to 7 incidents, a sharp contrast to the 83.3% drop in theft from the person, which fell from 12 to 2. This divergence underscores shifting patterns in criminal activity, with targeted offences rising while opportunistic thefts declined. The category of violence and sexual offences, making up 42.1% of all crimes, remained 5% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, illustrating West Suffolk's consistent performance in this area. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.8 per 1,000, was 40% below the UK average, reflecting a marked disparity in this category. These figures, combined with the 32% rise in shoplifting, suggest a mix of factors influencing crime trends, from seasonal transitions to local community dynamics.

West Suffolk's crime rate in September 2023 rose 4.4% from 5.9 to 6.2 per 1,000 residents compared to August, reflecting a slight upward trend. This rate translates to approximately 39 crimes reported daily across the district, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents in a localised timeframe. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 163 residents, highlighting the relative frequency of crime in a population-scaled perspective. While this monthly exposure is lower than the UK average, the slight increase from August suggests a need for continued monitoring of local patterns. The district's lower-than-average rates for anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime, combined with a sharp drop in theft from the person, illustrate a combination of factors affecting different crime types. These figures, when viewed alongside the population context, provide a nuanced understanding of how crime is distributed across West Suffolk relative to the national picture.