Ashford Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In November 2023, Ashford's crime rate stood at 9.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 21.3% above the UK average of 7.5. For a resident, this translates to roughly one crime for every 110 people in the area over the course of the month. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences, accounting for 37.9% of all reported incidents, followed by shoplifting (11.7%) and anti-social behaviour (11.5%). These figures align with seasonal patterns typical of November, when darker evenings and events like Bonfire Night may increase opportunities for certain types of crime. The high rate of violence and sexual offences could be linked to the built-up area’s mix of urban spaces and public venues, where interactions between residents and visitors are frequent. Meanwhile, shoplifting’s sharp rise to 1.1 per 1,000 residents—100% above the UK average—may reflect the surge in Black Friday shopping activity, with retail centres likely contributing to the spike. Anti-social behaviour, though slightly above the UK average, may also be influenced by the area’s density and the challenges of managing public spaces during colder months. These patterns suggest that while Ashford’s overall crime rate is elevated, specific factors such as retail activity and seasonal lighting conditions play a significant role in shaping the local crime profile.

November saw a 9.9% drop in the overall crime rate from 10.1 per 1,000 in October, though this masked significant fluctuations in individual categories. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common crime, but shoplifting rose sharply to 1.1 per 1,000 residents—100% above the UK average—likely driven by pre-Christmas retail activity. Burglary also increased by 84.6%, with 24 incidents reported, a trend that may be linked to colder weather prompting more indoor activity and potential vulnerabilities in home security. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 35.9% to 75 incidents, possibly due to the reduced frequency of bonfire-related incidents compared to previous years. Public order offences, which include disturbances in public spaces, dropped by 25% to 39 cases, suggesting a temporary reduction in conflicts during the month. Vehicle crime fell 20% below the UK average, which could be attributed to the area’s lower population density and fewer parking zones compared to larger urban centres. These shifts highlight how specific events and seasonal factors can influence crime trends, even as overall rates decline.

Ashford’s November crime rate of 9.1 per 1,000 residents marked a 9.9% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 10.1, indicating a slight improvement in public safety. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 24 crimes each day, a figure that contextualises the risk for residents living in a built-up area with a population of 80,340. Over the course of the month, this translated to one reported crime for every 110 residents, a metric that provides a tangible sense of the likelihood of encountering crime in daily life. When compared to the UK average, Ashford’s rate remains significantly higher, but the month-on-month decline suggests that local efforts or seasonal factors may have contributed to a temporary reduction in incidents. The population context is critical here: while the rate is elevated, the absolute number of crimes (733) is spread across a relatively small area, which may affect how residents perceive risk. This comparison underscores the importance of considering both local and national benchmarks when assessing crime trends, as the same rate can have different implications depending on the population density and geographic characteristics of the area.