Rushmore logs more than 9,000 crimes in 2020
MORE than 9,000 crimes were recorded across Aldershot and Farnborough in 2020, police data has shown.
Of the 14 areas of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, Rushmoor’s 9,031 offences last year was the eighth highest.
While overall crime totals for each area vary due to population size, it is possible to calculate the number of offences per 1,000 residents in a particular location to give a better reflection of the figures.
Despite seven areas having a higher number of offences recorded by Hampshire Constabulary, Rushmoor’s crime rate was the fourth highest in the county.
Police.uk figures, combined with Office for National Statistics population data, show that Rushmoor’s crime rate of 95.5 was only exceeded by Southampton, Portsmouth and Havant.
The most common crime type across the borough in 2020 was violence and sexual offences, which made up more than a third of all crime.
Of the 9,031 incidents recorded by police, a total of 3,194 were related to violence and sexual offences.
Further to that, more than 1,000 antisocial behaviour and 603 shoplifting offences were also recorded.
The least common crime, however, was theft of a person, of which there were 41 offences, and there were 97 possession of a weapon crimes recorded.
The annual report also provides a breakdown of the number of crimes recorded in each policing ward of an area.
Rushmoor is divided into six wards – two for Aldershot and four for Farnborough.
A full breakdown of the crime statistics for each policing ward can be found below:
1. Aldershot South – 2,049
The policing area of Aldershot South was the most crime-ridden area of Rushmoor across 2020, figures show, with it being the only ward where more than 2,000 offences were recorded.
As the name suggests, the ward covers the southern half of the town, from just north of Badshot Lea up to the Gold Valley Lakes, and includes Manor Park and Aldershot Park.
The most common crime, as with the borough as a whole, were violence and sexual offences (766) and antisocial behaviour (478). A total of 195 possession of a weapon incidents were also recorded.
The least common offences were theft of a person, of which there were only two, along with nine bicycle thefts.
2. Aldershot North – 1,835
More crime was committed in the two policing wards of Aldershot than in any of the four areas of Farnborough in 2020.
Aldershot North covers the town centre up to Aldershot Camp, including Westgate and land just south of Farnborough Airport.
The highest number of crimes were recorded in the violence and sexual offences category, of which there were 695, along with a further 373 antisocial behaviour incidents.
A total of 138 criminal damage and arson offences were also recorded.
In comparison, only 13 thefts of a person, 17 robberies and 18 bicycle thefts were recorded by police.
3. Farnborough West – 1,374 The total number of crimes recorded in each policing area of Farnborough were pretty similar in 2020, though the most took place in Farnborough West.
The ward covers West Heath, Cove and Southwood, just to the south of the M3 and west of the town centre.
More than a third of the 1,374 crimes recorded by police involved violence and sexual offences (518), while there were also 247 antisocial behaviour incidents.
There were also more than 100 public order offences.
The least common crimes were theft of a person (5), robbery (11) and possession of a weapon (12).
4. Farnborough North – 1,341 With just 33 fewer crimes, Farnborough North was the secondmost crime-ridden area of Farnborough, albeit the third safest in Rushmoor.
The ward covers an area to the north and south of the M3, alongside the A331 Blackwater Valley Route and includes the neighbourhoods of Farnborough Green and Fox Lane.
A total of 521 violence and sexual offences were recorded, with an additional 218 antisocial behaviour incidents.
More than 100 criminal damage and arson, vehicle crimes and public order offences were also recorded.
The least common crimes were theft of a person, of which there were only two, along with nine robberies and 13 possession of a weapon offences.
5. Farnborough Central – 1,284 Farnborough Central is secondsafest of the four Farnborough policing wards and fifth in Rushmoor as a whole.
That is despite the ward covering the town centre, as well as Farnborough Street and up to the Blackwater Shopping Centre alongside the A331.
Around a quarter of all crimes were violence and sexual offences, with a further 236 incidents related to antisocial behaviour.
The data shows that 149 public order offences were also recorded by police.
In contrast, only eight possession of a weapon offences were recorded, along with 16 theft of a person and 26 drug crimes.
6. Farnborough South – 1,148 Farnborough South is the least crime-ridden and, therefore, safest area of Rushmoor according to 2020 crime statistics.
The policing ward covers Farnborough Airport, Farnborough Park and North Camp – just south of the town centre.
Again, the most common crime was violence and sexual offences, of which there were 382, along with 255 antisocial behaviour crimes.
A total of 108 public order incidents were also recorded.
However, just three theft of a person crimes were committed, with only 15 bicycle thefts and 16 robberies, too.