Vital Signs MK 2025 - Report - Page 6
Crime & Safety
Crime and the fear of crime have
physical and psychological e昀昀ects,
for example, whether people feel safe
in their communities. This section
analyses trends in crime based on
data from the Police and ONS (O昀케ce
for National Statistics).
Crime and safety remain of critical concern in Milton Keynes,
which parallels the broader trends found across England and
Wales. Notably in 2024, Milton Keynes continues to have
a higher crime rate than the national average.
The overall crime rate in Milton Keynes has increased by
35.9%, rising from 96.3 per 1,000 people in 2019 to 130.9
per 1,000 people between 2023 and 2024. ‘Violent Crime
and Sexual O昀昀ences’ is now the most frequently reported
category of crime in MK.
The rate of Violent Crime and Sexual O昀昀ences in Milton
Keynes has risen by 77.2%, increasing from 29.8 per 1,000
people (Sep 2018 – Aug 2019) to 52.8 per 1,000 people (Jun
2023 – May 2024). This highlights the urgent need for targeted
interventions to enhance public safety and address concerns,
particularly regarding the safety and wellbeing of women in
Milton Keynes.
Nationally, crime disproportionately a昀昀ects certain
demographics, particularly women, as highlighted by the latest
Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW).
The data reveals that 6.3% of women experienced domestic
abuse, compared to 2.9% of men. Women are also more likely
to be victims of stalking, sexual o昀昀ences, and harassment,
re昀氀ecting broader societal issues and the persistent gender
disparity in experiences of violence and abuse.
The impact of the rising cost-of-living on survivors of Sexual
Violence and Domestic Abuse and the services that support
them has been well documented.
Women’s Aid Federation of England’s 2023 ‘No Woman Turned
Away’ report illustrated the continued impact of the cost-ofliving crisis – seeing a 4% annual rise in women without
enough money to pay for essentials for themselves and
their children while waiting for a refuge space.1
With crime rates rising and gender-based violence remaining
a serious issue, Milton Keynes must continue to invest in
preventative measures and targeted interventions to improve
safety for all residents.
However, crime statistics alone do not provide the full picture.
Survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence often do not
report crimes due to fear or stigma, meaning the true scale of
the issue is likely higher.
Violence Against Women and Girls
The United Nations de昀椀ne Violence Against Women and Girls
(VAWG) as:
“Any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely
to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or su昀昀ering
to women.” 2
Local e昀昀orts to tackle VAWG in Milton Keynes include the
SaferMK Partnership’s Priority 3 strategy, which emphasises
improving safety and addressing violence in the ‘nighttime
economy’.
SaferMK’s Strategy
The SaferMK Partnership is the statutory Community Safety
Partnership for Milton Keynes and ensures that agencies are
brought together to tackle and reduce crime and anti-social
behaviour.
Its vision of “sustaining safe and resilient communities
together”3 aims to make Milton Keynes a safer place by
reducing the fear of crime, minimising the likelihood of
becoming a victim of crime and by addressing community
safety concerns to improve the lives of our residents,
businesses and visitors.
To support these e昀昀orts, SaferMK has partnered with Milton
Keynes Community Foundation to establish a £100,000 fund
dedicated to reducing violent crime in the city. This initiative
aims to provide targeted grant funding for community-led
projects that address safety concerns and promote crime
prevention.
1
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Vital Signs MK - 12th Edition 2025
(Source: Women’s Aid. (2023) Nowhere To Turn, 2023: Findings from the seventh year of the No Woman Turned Away
project. Bristol: Women’s Aid.)
2
(Source: https://www.un.org/en/observances/ending-violence-against-women-day)
