Belper Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In Belper, the per-capita risk of encountering crime in August 2023 was 5.5 incidents per 1,000 residents — a figure 32.1% below the UK average of 8.1. This translates to roughly one crime for every 181 residents over the course of the month, a rate that would likely feel less immediate to most locals than the national context suggests. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 44% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (26.6%) and other theft (6.4%). These patterns align with Belper’s character as a post-industrial town with a mix of residential and commercial areas, where anti-social behaviour often clusters in public spaces and violence may be influenced by seasonal factors such as the influx of holiday visitors. August, being a peak holiday month, likely contributed to the 37% lower rate of other theft compared to the UK average, as empty homes may have deterred burglary but not necessarily reduced other forms of crime. The seasonal context also suggests that the town’s limited tourism infrastructure — unlike coastal resorts — may have mitigated some risks, though the sharp rise in shoplifting (from 2 to 5 incidents) highlights vulnerabilities in retail areas during summer. This data, while showing a safer-than-average profile overall, underscores the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas such as local shops and public spaces.

August 2023 saw a 150% increase in shoplifting compared to July, rising from 2 to 5 incidents. This jump, though still below the UK average for the category by 50%, suggests heightened pressure on local retail outlets during the summer. Burglary also doubled from 2 to 4 incidents, a 100% increase that may reflect the seasonal pattern of empty homes during August holidays. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 71.4% (from 7 to 2 incidents), a drop consistent with the lower levels of public disorder typically seen in August. The breakdown of crime types reveals a mix of local and national trends: while violence and sexual offences remained 9% below the UK average, anti-social behaviour was 4% above, possibly due to increased social activity in the area. For residents, the most immediate takeaway is the sharp rise in shoplifting, which may warrant closer attention from local retailers and community groups. The fact that vehicle crime fell by 80% compared to the UK average (from 3 to 1 incident) also highlights Belper’s unique profile, where fewer parked vehicles in residential areas may reduce opportunities for such crimes.

Belper’s crime rate in August 2023 (5.5 per 1,000) was 3.7% lower than the previous month’s rate of 5.7, a decline that aligns with the seasonal slowdown in some crime types. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 4 crimes per day — a figure that, while modest, remains a tangible reminder of local risks. Over the course of the month, the 1-in-181 resident ratio for reported crimes provides a concrete context for residents: for every 181 people living in Belper, one crime was recorded. This is a monthly aggregate, not a daily frequency, and reflects the cumulative effect of both persistent and transient crime patterns. When compared to the UK average, Belper’s performance is striking: it recorded 32.1% fewer crimes per 1,000 residents than the national figure. This gap is most pronounced in categories like criminal damage and arson (84% below the UK average) and vehicle crime (80% below), which may reflect the town’s smaller scale and lower population density. However, the 4% above-average rate for anti-social behaviour suggests that local factors — such as the interaction of community dynamics with seasonal events — may still play a role. For a town of 19,732 residents, these numbers translate to a manageable but non-negligible level of risk, particularly in areas where retail and public spaces are concentrated.