Harworth and Bircotes Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Harworth and Bircotes recorded a crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents in August 2023, marking an 11.1% gap below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This figure, while modest, reflects the area’s status as a rural built-up area within Bassetlaw, where crime patterns often diverge from densely populated urban centres. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 26.9% of all incidents (14 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (17.3%, 9 cases) and criminal damage and arson (15.4%, 8 cases). The seasonal context of August—peak holiday month—may have influenced these trends, with unoccupied homes potentially increasing burglary risks. However, the area’s overall crime rate remains lower than the UK average, consistent with the characteristics of smaller rural communities where crime is often more dispersed and less frequent. The rise in criminal damage and arson, despite being 75% above the UK average for this category, may be tied to the summer months, when empty properties are more vulnerable. Meanwhile, the relatively low rate of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.4 per 1,000) suggests that local policing or community initiatives may be effective in certain areas. The drop in anti-social behaviour, which fell by 59.1% compared to July, could be attributed to the summer holidays reducing public space congestion, though this remains a hypothesis requiring further data. These patterns illustrate how rural areas, even within built-up zones, can experience unique crime dynamics shaped by seasonal rhythms, population density, and local infrastructure.

August 2023 saw stark contrasts in crime trends, with theft from the person doubling from zero to one incident—a rare but notable spike. Shoplifting increased by 66.7% as 5 incidents were recorded, suggesting heightened activity in local retail areas during the summer holidays. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 75%, dropping from 8 to 2 incidents, possibly due to fewer commuters or improved security measures. Anti-social behaviour also fell by 59.1%, from 22 to 9 incidents, a drop that may reflect the impact of school holidays reducing public spaces’ foot traffic. The area’s criminal damage and arson rate rose 60% to 8 incidents, significantly above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This could indicate vulnerabilities in property security during the summer, when homes are often unoccupied. These shifts highlight the combination of seasonal factors and local crime dynamics.

Crime in Harworth and Bircotes fell sharply in August 2023 compared to July, with the overall rate dropping 27.7% to 7.2 per 1,000 residents from 10.0 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the 11.1% gap between the area’s rate and the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. Locally, the monthly exposure figure shows one reported crime for every 139 residents over the course of August—a rate that, while low, reflects the area’s small population of 7,226. Daily crime counts averaged two incidents per day, suggesting a steady but manageable level of activity. The drop in anti-social behaviour (59.1%) and vehicle crime (75%) may indicate seasonal shifts, with fewer residents commuting or visiting during August holidays. However, the increase in criminal damage and arson (60%) raises questions about unoccupied homes during the peak holiday period, consistent with patterns seen in other rural areas during summer months.