Amber Valley Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Amber Valley’s crime picture in May 2023, accounting for 35.3% of all reported crimes. This category, which includes assault, harassment, and sexual violence, recorded 381 incidents, a rate of 2.9 per 1,000 residents—slightly above the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000. The area’s crime rate overall stood at 8.3 per 1,000, 3.8% higher than the UK average of 8.0. Anti-social behaviour followed as the second most common category, with 256 reports (23.7% of total crimes), a rate of 2.0 per 1,000—50% above the UK average. These patterns align with May’s seasonal context: longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising, which may partly explain the rise in alcohol-fuelled incidents and public disorder. Public order offences (121 cases) and criminal damage (113 cases) also exceeded UK averages by 36% and 45% respectively, suggesting a combination of transient population activity and local environmental factors. The relative absence of shoplifting (29 cases, 2.7% of total) and vehicle crime (29 cases, 2.7% of total)—both 56% and 59% below UK averages—may reflect Amber Valley’s lower retail density and secure parking infrastructure compared to more densely populated urban centres.

May 2023 saw sharp increases in robbery (+100%) and theft from the person (+66.7%) compared to April, with six and five incidents respectively. These jumps, while small in absolute terms, may signal heightened vulnerability in public spaces during late evenings. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 50% (from 58 to 29 cases), likely due to increased police patrols or improved car security measures during the Easter-to-summer transition. Anti-social behaviour remained significantly above the UK average (50% higher), with 256 incidents—equivalent to 2.0 per 1,000 residents. This category, which includes noise complaints and vandalism, may be exacerbated by Amber Valley’s mix of residential and commercial zones. Shoplifting fell by 14.7% (from 34 to 29 cases), suggesting effective retail security strategies or reduced foot traffic during May’s school holidays. The drop in vehicle crime and shoplifting contrasts with the surge in violent crime, highlighting a shifting balance between property and violent offences.

Amber Valley’s crime rate rose 2.5% month-on-month from 8.1 to 8.3 per 1,000 residents in May 2023. This translates to roughly 35 crimes reported daily, or one crime for every 121 residents over the course of the month. While the overall rate is slightly above the UK average, the distribution of crime types reveals stark contrasts: anti-social behaviour is 50% higher than the UK average, but shoplifting and vehicle crime are both 56% and 59% lower respectively. This disparity suggests that Amber Valley’s crime profile is shaped by local factors—such as its mix of urban and rural areas—rather than a generalised increase in criminal activity. The monthly exposure figure (1 in 121 residents) provides context for residents: over a year, this would equate to roughly 10 crimes per resident, assuming consistent rates. However, the sharp rise in violent crime and anti-social behaviour in May indicates a need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas, such as town centres and public transport hubs, where seasonal factors like longer evenings may amplify existing tensions.