Rural crime
The Rural Crime Statistics
The Home Office Statistical Bulletin 'Rural Crime, England and Wales' has been compiled from the British Crime Surveys (BCS) and police recorded crime figures covering the period 1983 to 2001. They confirm rural residents have consistently experienced lower levels of criminal victimisation over the last twenty years - with levels of burglary, vehicle-related thefts and violence all consistently lower than in non-rural areas.
However, it is also apparent that rural areas did experience a sharper rise in crime than elsewhere from the late 1980s through to the mid-1990s. This finding may help to explain why crime has become more prominent in the agenda of rural concerns.
Main findings:
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Vehicle related crime is significantly lower in rural areas, with 1,207 incidents recorded in 1999, compared to 1,947 in other areas (incidences per 10,000 vehicle-owning households).
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Less than 3% of people living in rural areas became victims of burglary and a similar proportion were victims of violent crime in 1999, compared to almost 5% for both crimes in non-rural areas.
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The number of burglaries rose more in rural areas over the past two decades compared to both suburban and urban areas, although rural areas have consistently experienced significantly fewer incidences of burglary than urban areas.
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Only 12% of rural respondents to the 2001 BCS thought crime in their local area had risen 'a lot' compared to 22% of urban respondents.
The report also shows how rural residents have more positive perceptions of the police, with 84 per cent reporting that they feel the police in their area do a 'very' or 'fairly' good job, compared to 77 per cent of non-rural residents. Although the most rural areas have fewer officers compared to more urban areas, this is not disproportionate to the actual number of crimes they experience.
The report notes a pattern in burglary rates common to urban, suburban and rural areas - which increased until the mid 1990's and have subsequently declined. A significant rise in burglary rates in rural areas until 1995 is reflected in rural respondents levels of concern about the crime. 19 per cent were 'very worried' about burglary in 1994, but this fell to only 11 per cent in 2001. Levels of concern about other crimes, such as mugging, racial attack or being physically assaulted are also significantly statistically lower than they are in non-rural areas.
Getting a copy
Click here for the Home Office Statistical Bulletin 'Rural Crime, England and Wales, 01/02'
PDF 439Kb
Last update: Monday, December 11, 2006