Old Sarum Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In November 2023, the crime rate in Old Sarum stood at 5.0 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 33.3% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This figure translates to roughly one reported crime for every 201 residents over the course of the month, offering a tangible sense of risk for local residents. The breakdown of crimes reveals a stark focus on violent incidents, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 58.6% of all reported crimes (17 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (5 cases) and other theft (3 cases). This pattern contrasts with the UK average, where violence and sexual offences are slightly lower (2.6 per 1,000) and anti-social behaviour is marginally higher. The seasonal context of November—marked by shorter evenings, Bonfire Night, and the start of Black Friday shopping—may partly explain the elevated rates of violence and public order offences. While the overall crime rate remains low compared to national figures, the concentration of violent crimes raises questions about local dynamics, such as increased social interactions during festive events or the impact of transient populations in the area. The relatively low property crime rate (6 cases) suggests that theft from vehicles, burglary, and other property-related offences are not major concerns in Old Sarum, a built-up area within Wiltshire that likely benefits from a close-knit community structure. However, the seasonal spike in violent crimes underscores the need for continued vigilance during periods of heightened activity and reduced visibility.

November 2023 saw a 30.8% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 13 to 17 cases—a shift that may reflect the impact of seasonal events such as Bonfire Night and the early onset of Black Friday shopping. This category’s rate (2.9 per 1,000) is 12% above the UK average, suggesting a localised concentration of violent incidents. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 50.0% (from 2 to 1 case), a decline that could be linked to reduced traffic during the month or heightened awareness among drivers. Anti-social behaviour, which accounts for 17.2% of crimes, remains significantly below the UK average (14% below), indicating a strong community response to disruptive activities. Criminal damage and arson saw a 100% increase (from 0 to 1 case), as did public order offences, both of which may be tied to the increased use of open spaces during darker evenings or the dispersal of fireworks. Theft from the person, at 0.2 per 1,000, is 5% above the UK average, though the single reported case is unlikely to signal a broader trend. These fluctuations highlight the combination of local conditions and national crime patterns, with Old Sarum’s relatively low property crime rate and moderate violent crime rate suggesting a community that is neither entirely insulated from crime nor affected by it.

The crime rate in Old Sarum rose by 11.7% from 4.5 per 1,000 in October 2023 to 5.0 per 1,000 in November, reflecting a modest upward trend despite remaining well below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day during November, a figure that, while low, may be amplified by the concentrated nature of violent incidents. Over the course of the month, this translated to one reported crime for every 201 residents—a statistic that, when contextualised against the local population of 5,826, illustrates the relatively low frequency of crime in a built-up area of Wiltshire. This monthly exposure is significantly lower than the UK average, which would equate to roughly one crime for every 133 residents. The population-scaled perspective further underscores Old Sarum’s position as a safer area compared to national benchmarks, though the increase in violent crimes during November highlights the need for targeted interventions during periods of heightened activity. The contrast between Old Sarum’s low property crime rate and the UK’s higher incidence of vehicle crime also suggests that local factors, such as community policing or the physical layout of the area, may contribute to the reduced risk of theft and burglary. These comparisons offer a nuanced view of the area’s safety profile, balancing the benefits of its lower overall crime rate with the challenges posed by the recent rise in violent offences.