Mildenhall (West Suffolk) Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

October 2024 in Mildenhall (West Suffolk) marked a notable shift in the crime profile, with violent crimes outnumbering property crimes for the first time this year. The overall crime rate of 6.7 per 1,000 residents, 17.3% below the UK average of 8.1, underscores the area's relatively low risk compared to national trends. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, contributing 46.7% of all incidents, a figure that may be partly explained by the seasonal context of October. As clocks go back and evenings grow darker, the increased use of artificial lighting in public spaces—common in this built-up area—may have inadvertently created conditions conducive to certain types of crime. The dominance of violent offences could also reflect local characteristics, such as the town's role as a commuter hub with transient populations or its proximity to major roads that see high volumes of traffic. Property crimes, while lower than violent offences, still accounted for a significant share (35.0%), with other theft and public order offences making up the remainder. This mix of crimes suggests a combination of local demographics and environmental factors. For instance, the rise in bicycle theft—though minimal in absolute terms (1 incident)—may be linked to the presence of students or commuters who use bikes for transport. Meanwhile, the relatively low rate of burglary (0.2 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.3) could indicate effective community policing or home security measures. The seasonal context of October—marked by Halloween and the transition to darker evenings—may have influenced crime patterns, though the exact mechanisms remain to be explored. This data illustrates a community where violent crime is more prevalent than property crime, a trend that may require targeted interventions to address underlying causes such as social isolation or economic pressures.

The balance of crime types in October 2024 reveals a shift toward violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 46.7% of all incidents. This contrasts with property crimes, which made up 35.0% of the total. The 100.0% increase in burglary, theft from the person, and bicycle theft highlights pockets of activity that may be linked to seasonal factors such as Halloween or darker evenings. Violent crime rates in the area are 16% above the UK average, a figure that could reflect local dynamics such as the town's proximity to major transport routes or its role as a regional hub. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 50.0%, suggesting a temporary reduction in low-level disputes or community tensions. For residents, the 100.0% increase in bicycle theft—a crime type that rose from 0 to 1—may signal a need for heightened vigilance in shared spaces like parks or near schools.

Mildenhall's crime rate in October 2024 rose 20.0% compared to September 2024, from 5.6 to 6.7 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in crime patterns that warrants attention. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 149 residents—a figure that contextualises the scale of risk for local households. Daily crime averages show 2 incidents per day, a figure that may seem low but aligns with the area's relatively low overall rate. When viewed against the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000, Mildenhall remains 17.3% below, a gap that suggests systemic factors—such as community cohesion or policing strategies—may contribute to this disparity. The population context further highlights that even small changes in crime rates can have measurable impacts on a tight-knit community of 8,940 residents, where each incident is more immediately felt.