Belper Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a town of 19,732 residents, 103 reported crimes in September 2023 equate to 0.52% of the population being directly involved in a crime. This translates to 5.2 crimes per 1,000 residents, placing Belper 35% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences (45 cases, 43.7% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (17 cases, 16.5%) and public order offences (11 cases, 10.7%). These figures align with seasonal patterns typical of a small town transitioning from summer to autumn, where the return of students to local educational institutions and the draw of shorter evenings may contribute to increased social activity and associated incidents. Violence and sexual offences in Belper are 16% below the UK average, suggesting a lower incidence of serious crimes compared to national trends. Anti-social behaviour, which often correlates with youth activity in town centres, is 33% below the UK average, potentially reflecting effective local policing or community engagement efforts. Public order offences, while slightly below the UK average, remain a persistent concern in areas with high foot traffic or late-night venues. The relatively low overall crime rate may be influenced by Belper’s character as a historically industrial town with a strong community presence, where local initiatives could play a role in maintaining order.

September 2023 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories. Vehicle crime surged by 300% compared to August, rising from one to four incidents—a sharp increase that may reflect changes in parking patterns or increased vehicle presence during the start of the academic term. Other crime and possession of weapons both doubled from August, with three and one incidents respectively, highlighting emerging concerns that warrant closer attention. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 41.4%, dropping from 29 to 17 cases, possibly due to targeted enforcement or seasonal shifts in community activity. Theft from the person also decreased by 50%, from two to one incident, which could align with reduced foot traffic in public spaces as evenings grow darker. Violence and sexual offences, while the largest category, remain 16% below the UK average, suggesting Belper’s approach to addressing serious crimes may be more effective than national benchmarks. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.9 per 1,000 residents, is 33% below the UK average of 1.3 per 1,000, a statistic that may interest local residents concerned about public safety in shared spaces. These variations underscore the importance of monitoring specific crime trends rather than relying solely on aggregate figures.

Belper’s crime rate in September 2023 (5.2 per 1,000) was 5.4% lower than the previous month’s rate of 5.5 per 1,000, indicating a modest decline. On a daily basis, the town experienced approximately three crimes per day, a figure that, while low, remains visible to residents in a close-knit community. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 192 residents—a monthly exposure rate that places Belper among the safer areas in the UK. With a population of nearly 20,000, this statistic suggests that the vast majority of residents are unaffected by crime on a daily basis, though the absolute number of incidents is still significant enough to prompt local discussion. The 35% gap between Belper’s rate and the UK average (8.0 per 1,000) highlights the town’s relative safety compared to national trends, though this figure does not account for variations in policing methods or reporting practices. For someone living in Belper, the 1-in-192 monthly exposure rate provides a tangible sense of risk, reinforcing the idea that while crime is present, it is not pervasive. This comparison also underscores the value of localized data in understanding community-specific safety profiles, rather than relying on broad national averages that may obscure regional differences.