West Suffolk Crime Rate June 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In June 2024, West Suffolk recorded 1,124 crimes across its population of 188,485 residents, translating to a crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 people—26.8% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This figure places the area in a safer category compared to national trends, particularly in categories like anti-social behaviour, which were 64% below the UK average. The most significant contributors to the crime rate were violence and sexual offences (492 cases, 43.8% of total), followed by criminal damage and arson (112 cases, 10.0%) and public order offences (98 cases, 8.7%). These patterns align with the area's likely characteristics as a largely rural district with lower population density, which may contribute to reduced opportunities for certain types of crime. Seasonal context in June—marked by longer days and the onset of summer—may have influenced activity levels, with violence and sexual offences linked to increased social interactions or seasonal tourism in nearby coastal areas. While the overall rate remains stable, the breakdown of crime types suggests a mix of localised factors, including the effectiveness of community policing in curbing anti-social behaviour and the potential impact of rural isolation on burglary rates, which matched the UK average at 0.3 per 1,000. The relatively low prevalence of vehicle crime (29 cases, 2.6% of total) may reflect limited urban infrastructure or lower traffic density compared to more industrialised regions. These figures collectively illustrate a crime profile shaped by both geographic and seasonal dynamics, with West Suffolk maintaining a consistently lower rate than the national average in several key categories.

June 2024 saw a 42.9% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 14 to 20 incidents—a sharp upward trend that may reflect summer cycling activity or targeted theft in specific areas. Conversely, robbery rates fell by 50%, dropping from 4 to 2 cases, a decrease that could be linked to heightened police presence or seasonal changes in public spaces. Possession of weapons also declined by 47.6%, from 21 to 11 incidents, marking a significant drop in this category. Violent crimes remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 43.8% of all reported crimes, yet they still fell 6% below the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000. The stark contrast in anti-social behaviour rates—64% lower than the UK average—suggests effective local initiatives or community engagement strategies. Residents might find the 35% reduction in shoplifting particularly relevant, as it indicates a 0.6 per 1,000 rate, compared to the UK's 0.6 per 1,000, highlighting a balanced performance in retail crime prevention.

West Suffolk's crime rate in June 2024 remained stable compared to the previous month, dropping slightly from 6.1 to 6.0 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no major shifts in crime patterns over the past 30 days. On a daily basis, 37 crimes were reported each day in June, a figure that translates to a local context of one crime occurring for roughly every 168 residents over the course of the month. When scaled to the area's population of 188,485, this rate highlights a relatively low level of criminal activity compared to the UK average, with the most significant disparity seen in anti-social behaviour, which is 64% below the national average. The population-scaled perspective offers residents a tangible frame of reference: for every 100,000 people in West Suffolk, approximately 600 crimes were reported in June, a figure that is lower than the UK's 820 per 100,000. This contrast underscores the area's overall safety profile, particularly in categories like public order and anti-social behaviour, where local rates are significantly lower than national benchmarks.