Penistone Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Penistone's crime profile in February 2024 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences dominating at 32.4% of total incidents. This contrasts sharply with the UK average, where such offences account for 52% of all crimes. The area's overall crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents — 46.5% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000 — underscores a generally safer environment. The breakdown shows anti-social behaviour (14.7%) and vehicle crime (11.8%) as the next most common categories, with both significantly below national rates. This pattern may reflect Penistone's character as a smaller built-up area within Barnsley, where community cohesion and limited commercial activity could reduce opportunities for certain crimes. The low rate of shoplifting (2.9%) and public order offences (2.9%) aligns with the seasonal context of February, a winter month marked by reduced outdoor activity and pre-spring lull. However, the rise in vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour suggests local factors, such as increased vehicle presence or temporary disruptions in community oversight, may be at play. The relative absence of burglary (8.8%) and other theft (8.8%) compared to the UK average further highlights differences in spatial dynamics, due to Penistone's compact nature and lower population density. This crime mix illustrates a unique profile shaped by both geographic and seasonal influences, with violent crime remaining lower than national levels despite the 9.7% month-on-month increase.

February saw significant shifts in Penistone's crime mix, with anti-social behaviour surging 150% (2 to 5 incidents) and vehicle crime doubling (2 to 4). These increases contrast with a 21.4% drop in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 14 to 11 — a category already 52% below the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000. Shoplifting plummeted 66.7% (3 to 1), a decline that may reflect reduced foot traffic during the winter lull. Vehicle crime's 100% increase raises questions about local factors, though it remains 14% above the UK average of 0.4 per 1,000. The area's violent crime rate is lower than the UK average, with 11 incidents contributing to a 3.8 per 1,000 rate. Residents might find the 52% gap in violence and sexual offences particularly relevant, as it suggests a safer environment for daily life despite the month-on-month fluctuations.

Penistone's crime rate in February 2024 rose 9.7% compared to January's 3.5 per 1,000.5% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. Daily crime figures show an average of one reported crime per day in Penistone, a figure that may reflect the area's compact built-up nature and limited population of 8,877. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 261 residents, a ratio that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the local population. This monthly exposure rate is lower than many urban centres, suggesting a generally safer environment despite the 9.7% increase. The rise in anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime may indicate seasonal shifts, though the overall rate remains well below national benchmarks. The population-scaled perspective highlights that even with the month-on-month increase, Penistone's crime levels remain proportionally low compared to larger cities with higher population densities and more complex social dynamics.