Darfield Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Darfield’s crime rate in October 2023 stood at 9.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 18.8% above the UK average of 8.0. This figure reflects a persistent challenge in maintaining public safety, particularly given the area’s built-up nature within Barnsley. The most significant contributor to the crime rate was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 43.7% of all recorded incidents (31 cases), a category that was 56% higher than the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, comprising 18.3% of crimes (13 cases), while criminal damage and arson made up 14.1% (10 cases). These figures suggest a focus on community-based issues, with property crimes making up a smaller proportion (29.5%) compared to violent crimes. The seasonal context of October—marked by the clocks going back and the onset of darker evenings—may have played a role in the rise of violent offences, as reduced visibility and increased alcohol consumption during Halloween events could have created conditions conducive to such crimes. The area’s relatively low population (7,470) and compact layout may also contribute to the concentration of incidents in specific locations, though further analysis would be needed to confirm this hypothesis. The drop in vehicle crime and shoplifting suggests that targeted initiatives, such as improved street lighting or community awareness campaigns, could have had a measurable impact in certain areas. However, the significant increases in violent and property-related crimes indicate that sustained efforts are required to address the underlying factors driving these trends.

October 2023 saw a marked shift in crime patterns, with violent offences surging by 47.6% to 31 incidents, the highest category by a significant margin. This increase, from 21 in September, aligns with seasonal factors such as darker evenings and the Halloween period, which may have contributed to higher rates of alcohol-fuelled incidents in public spaces. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson rose by 66.7% to 10 incidents, a stark contrast to the 6 recorded in September. This category was 106% above the UK average, highlighting a localised issue that could be linked to the area’s older housing stock and limited community engagement in vandalism prevention. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 83.3%, from six to one incident, a drop that may reflect reduced daylight hours deterring opportunistic thefts or improved security measures around parked vehicles. These contrasting trends underscore the combination of environmental and temporal factors influencing crime in Darfield.

Darfield's crime rate in October 2023 rose slightly to 9.5 per 1,000 residents, a 2.8% increase from the previous month's 9.2 per 1,000. This small but notable rise follows a trend of fluctuating crime rates over recent months, with October marking the first upward movement since July. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day during the month, a figure that, while low, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents in specific locations. Over the course of October, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 105 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is consistent with the area’s built-up character and limited population density. While this figure may seem high to some, the majority of crimes are concentrated in a small number of incidents, with violence and sexual offences accounting for nearly half of all recorded crimes. This suggests that targeted interventions in high-risk areas could yield measurable improvements in public safety.