West Suffolk Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in West Suffolk, 6.1 crimes were reported in May 2024, a rate 27.4% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This disparity highlights the area’s unique risk profile, shaped by its rural character and seasonal dynamics. Violence and sexual offences dominated, accounting for 44.6% of all crimes, with 508 incidents recorded. This category was 5% below the UK average, a narrow gap that may reflect the district’s lower population density and fewer high-traffic urban centres. Criminal damage and arson, at 9.0% of total crimes, and public order offences, also at 9.0%, both fell 3–5% below UK averages, suggesting that community-focused policing or limited nightlife activity contributes to these lower rates. Seasonal factors, such as longer evenings and increased socialising, likely influenced the rise in violent crimes and public order issues. However, anti-social behaviour remained significantly lower, at 66% below the UK average, a trend consistent with the area’s sparse population and limited public spaces. The low rate of vehicle crime—79% below the UK average—further reinforces the impact of the district’s rural layout, where car theft opportunities are fewer. For residents, these figures translate to a manageable risk profile, with targeted awareness in areas frequented during late hours being a practical response to the season’s heightened activity.

May 2024 saw a sharp 133.3% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 6 to 14 incidents. This jump aligns with the seasonal context of longer evenings and increased outdoor activity, likely linked to warmer weather and more cycling. Robbery also doubled, with 4 incidents reported, though this remains well below the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped 29.4% to 24 cases, possibly due to reduced car usage during weekends or increased parking security. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.5 per 1,000, was 66% below the UK average, a stark contrast to the national trend. This discrepancy may reflect West Suffolk’s rural landscape, where fewer public spaces and lower population density limit opportunities for such crimes. Meanwhile, possession of weapons rose 75%, from 12 to 21 cases—a shift that, while modest, warrants attention given the area’s low baseline for this category.

West Suffolk’s crime rate in May 2024 rose 17.9% from April’s 5.1 per 1,000 to 6.1 per 1,000.4% below the UK average. Over 31 days, 37 crimes occurred daily—a figure that, while locally specific, contextualises risk as a recurring presence rather than an isolated event. Monthly, one crime was reported for every 165 residents, a rate that, while lower than the UK average, underscores the importance of vigilance in community spaces. This increase may partly reflect seasonal shifts, such as longer evenings and increased socialising, which could heighten exposure to public order and violent crimes. However, the area’s rural character, with fewer high-density populations, likely contributes to the sustained gap between local and national rates. For residents, this translates to a manageable but not negligible risk profile, with targeted awareness in areas frequented during late hours being a practical response.