Crime in Bourne
Bourne is widely regarded as one of the safer market towns in Lincolnshire, with crime levels generally below both the county and national averages. While no community is completely free from crime, the town remains an attractive place to live thanks to its strong sense of community, good local amenities, and proactive neighbourhood policing.
Like many towns across the UK, the most commonly reported offences in Bourne include violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and public order incidents. These categories account for a significant proportion of recorded crime, although many incidents are low-level and do not involve serious violence. Official neighbourhood policing data also shows that burglary, vehicle crime, and robbery occur less frequently than the main offence categories.
Lincolnshire Police maintains a dedicated neighbourhood policing team for Bourne and the surrounding villages, working closely with residents, businesses, schools, and community organisations to address local concerns. Their priorities include reducing anti-social behaviour, supporting vulnerable people, preventing repeat offending, and encouraging residents to report suspicious activity.
Independent crime analysis suggests that Bourne's overall crime rate remains considerably lower than the Lincolnshire average, reinforcing its reputation as a relatively safe place to live. As with most towns, crime levels can fluctuate from month to month, and occasional spikes in offences such as vehicle crime or shoplifting do occur. However, long-term trends indicate that Bourne continues to compare favourably with many similar-sized communities across the region.
Reporting Crime
For all emergencies, such as when a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when there is danger to life or when violence is being used or threatened, call 999.
For all non-emergencies, such as your car being stolen, your property being damaged and a suspected drug use or dealing in your neighbourhood, please call 101. You should also call this number if you spot a fallen tree or any other object that is causing an obstruction.
You can keep up-to-date with reported crimes in Bourne by following the Stamford, Bourne and Deeping Police Facebook and Twitter social media accounts.
The Bourne Police Station can be found on West Street (Postcode: PE10 9PD) and is generally open Monday to Friday from 9.00am until 5.00pm.
Much of Bourne town centre is covered by CCTV operated and owned by South Kesteven District Council. The monitoring centre is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and all cameras are recorded on to a digital recording system which is running 24 hours a day and 365 days a year (all recorded images are retained for 30 days). You can see all locations of CCTV in Bourne by visiting the South Kesteven District Council website.
If you are having problems relating to nuisance neighbours, please contact South Kesteven District Council (or the housing provider if you are a tenant of social housing) as this is not something normally dealt with by the police. Please visit www.southkesteven.gov.uk to report nuisance neighbours to the council. Littering/fly tipping, dog fouling and inconsiderate parking should also be reported to the local council.
You should call 101 if you want to talk to your local police officer, get crime prevention advice, or report a crime that does not need an emergency response. For all emergencies, call 999.
Reducing Crime
As well as reporting any crime you see, there are also a number of steps you can take to help reduce your risk of being a victim of crime.
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- Make sure you do not leave any personal belongings on show in your vehicle - this only acts as temptation for any thieves who are opertating at the time.
- fiber_manual_record Make sure you never leave your car unattended whilst the engine is running and the keys are in the igintion - it can be tempting to do this in the winter months whilst waiting for the car to warm up and the windows to demist but you may come back to find your car gone.
- fiber_manual_record Make sure you do not leave any windows open whilst your property is unattended - it can be tempting to do this in hot weather but it is simply not worth the risk as this can be used as a means of entry to your home.
- fiber_manual_record Ensure you lock your front door and close any exposed windows if sitting out in the garden or whilst upstairs as opportunist thieves can see this as an opportunity to enter your home and steal your belongings whilst you remain unaware in another part of the house.
- fiber_manual_record Do not let anyone into your home who is not known to you unless they can provide you with identification, or have a legitimate reason for needing to enter your home - even if the person looks and acts friendly, appearances can be deceptive and you can never be quite sure what their motives are.
- fiber_manual_record If you are on a night out, try to moderate what you drink by having a glass of water in between alcoholic drinks and avoiding the pressure to keep up with others - if you know your limit and drink sensibly you are much more likely to stay safe and have a great night out. Make a plan or how you are going to get home or to the place you are stopping at - a taxi in Bourne can be hard to come by so it's always best to arrange one before going out.
- fiber_manual_record Be mindful of what you say online via social media - remember that words can hurt and you should ensure you do not say anything that could cause offence or be perceived as bullying - offensive language and bullying online is taken just as seriously as in real life.
- fiber_manual_record If you don't think something is right, then walk away. Peer pressure can be overwhelming but remember that real friends will respect your decision. Having the odd cigarette or substance may not seen like a big deal but it can soon escalate into a full blown addiction.
- fiber_manual_record Be respectful of your neighbours by keeping loud noise to a minimum - remember that noise can travel well between adjoining properties, especially older properties which can have thin walls and inadequate sound insulation. The loud pounding sound of bass travels particularly well through all structures. Constant exposure to unwanted noise can can cause undue stress and frustration.
- fiber_manual_record Always drive carefully and within any speed limits - when driving through any built-up areas the speed limit is generally 30MPH. If your driving past a school it's always advised to go no more than 20MPH. Give yourself enough time to avoid the need to rush anywhere by planning your journey and making allowances for any road works and known accidents. Take extra care when driving in the countryside around Bourne after dark, particularly in areas where wood land is evident as there is always the risk of deer emerging in front of you - there have been many reports of deer causing a great deal of damage to vehicles in the area, along with reported accidents as a result of not spotting the deer early enough.