Royal Wootton Bassett Crime Rate April 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a town of around 13,600 residents, 66 crimes reported in April 2023 translates to a rate of 4.9 per 1,000 people—34.7% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This places Royal Wootton Bassett among the safer areas in the country, though the crime profile reflects local patterns. Violence and sexual offences were the most common category, accounting for 39.4% of all crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (19.7%) and vehicle crime (13.6%). The seasonal context of April—Easter holidays, spring weather, and increased outdoor activity—may partly explain the mix of crimes, particularly the higher proportion of violent incidents compared to property crimes. While the overall rate is significantly lower than the UK average, vehicle crime in the area is 56% above the national average, suggesting local factors such as traffic density or vehicle storage practices could be contributing. The town's character as a built-up area within Wiltshire, likely with a mix of residential and commercial zones, may influence both the types and volumes of crimes reported, though further data would be needed to confirm specific geographic or demographic drivers.

April 2023 saw sharp increases in vehicle crime (+100%) and burglary (+100%), with both categories rising from zero to nine and three incidents respectively. This surge in vehicle-related offences may be linked to local factors such as parking patterns or temporary events during the Easter period. Conversely, other crime and criminal damage and arson both fell significantly, by 75% and 37.5% respectively, indicating possible seasonal shifts in criminal activity. The breakdown of crime types reveals a striking contrast: while violence and sexual offences are 27% below the UK average (2.6 vs 1.9 per 1,000), vehicle crime is 56% above the national average (0.5 vs 0.7 per 1,000). This divergence highlights the need for targeted local strategies, such as improved vehicle security measures in high-risk areas. Residents may find the 100% increase in burglary particularly concerning, though the absolute number remains low at three incidents. The data also shows that anti-social behaviour, at 1.0 per 1,000, is 15% below the UK average, suggesting community engagement efforts may be effective in managing disruptive conduct.

April 2023's crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 represents a 4.3% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.1 per 1,000, indicating a slight downward trend in overall crime. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of two crimes per day over the 30-day period, a figure that may be more relatable to residents than the aggregated monthly rate. When scaled to the local population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 206 residents over the course of the month—a monthly exposure rate that is lower than many comparable towns. The population context is critical here: with 13,617 residents, the absolute number of crimes (66) is relatively small, even when considering the UK's overall crime profile. This suggests that Royal Wootton Bassett's community policing efforts, combined with its demographic profile as a relatively small built-up area, may contribute to its lower-than-average crime rates. However, the 56% increase in vehicle crime compared to the UK average underscores the need for targeted interventions in this specific category, which remains a local anomaly despite the broader trend of reduced crime.