Retford Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

December 2025 saw a stark contrast in crime patterns across Retford, with violent crime significantly outweighing property crime. The area recorded 154 crimes overall, translating to a crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents — 8.6% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000. This disparity between violent and property crime is noteworthy, as violent offences (72 incidents) accounted for nearly half (46.8%) of all reported crimes, compared to property crimes (39 incidents) making up just 25.3%. This imbalance suggests a shift in criminal activity that may be linked to seasonal factors, such as the holiday season’s impact on community dynamics and increased social interactions in public spaces. The data aligns with patterns seen in other urban centres during December, where reduced daylight hours and heightened social gatherings can contribute to higher rates of violence and anti-social behaviour. Anti-social behaviour (24 incidents) followed closely behind violent crime, reflecting the influence of seasonal events like Christmas shopping and festive celebrations. While property crime rates in Retford remain lower than the UK average, the dominance of violent crime highlights a need for targeted policing strategies during periods of heightened social activity. The seasonal context of December — marked by long evenings, holiday-related foot traffic, and the potential for increased alcohol consumption — likely contributes to this trend, though further analysis would be required to confirm direct causal links. The overall crime rate, while below the UK average, underscores the importance of addressing specific violent crime trends to maintain public safety in the area.

December 2025 witnessed significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with burglary experiencing a staggering 600% increase from one incident in November to seven in December. This sharp rise, though still relatively low in absolute terms, signals a potential shift in criminal activity that could be linked to seasonal factors such as empty homes during the holiday period. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 90.9% — from 11 incidents in November to just one in December — a decline likely attributable to reduced traffic volumes and fewer opportunities for theft during the winter months. The violent crime rate (3.0 per 1,000 residents) was 17% above the UK average for this category, raising questions about localised factors that may contribute to this divergence. Meanwhile, shoplifting saw a 37.5% decrease, aligning with broader trends of reduced retail foot traffic during the Christmas period. The breakdown of crime types also reveals that anti-social behaviour (1.0 per 1,000 residents) and violence and sexual offences (3.0 per 1,000 residents) were both above UK averages, suggesting that Retford’s urban environment and seasonal dynamics may amplify these particular types of incidents. For residents, the most immediately relevant statistic is the 600% spike in burglaries, which could prompt increased vigilance around home security during the holiday season.

Retford’s crime rate in December 2025 (6.4 per 1,000 residents) marked a 7.3% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 6.9 per 1,000, indicating a slight but measurable reduction in overall criminal activity. This decline, when considered alongside the daily crime count of approximately five incidents per day, suggests that while the area remains a relatively low-crime environment compared to national averages, fluctuations are still evident. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 157 residents — a figure that, when contextualised within Retford’s population of 24,171, highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents experienced by individuals. The monthly exposure rate, while modest, underscores the importance of maintaining consistent policing and community engagement to sustain this trend. When compared to the UK average, Retford’s lower overall crime rate is a positive indicator, though the area’s violent crime rate being 17% above the national average for this category reveals a need for targeted interventions. This contrast between Retford’s overall performance and its specific violent crime trends illustrates the complexity of local crime patterns, which are shaped by both national trends and unique regional factors such as the town’s proximity to larger urban centres and its seasonal demographic shifts during the holiday period.