Bolsover Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Bolsover’s December 2023 crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents places it 5.6% below the UK average of 7.2, marking a consistent performance relative to national benchmarks. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences (250 cases, 43.6% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (73 cases, 12.7%) and criminal damage and arson (59 cases, 10.3%). This distribution aligns with patterns typical of a mixed urban-rural area, where public spaces and community tensions may contribute to higher rates of violent and disorderly conduct. The seasonal context of December—marked by Christmas shopping, extended evenings, and the holiday season—likely amplifies certain crime types. For instance, the 15% increase in violence and sexual offences above the UK average may be linked to the combination of festive gatherings and reduced visibility during darker nights. Conversely, lower vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000, 56% below UK average) could reflect fewer commuters and reduced traffic in the area during the holidays. The data also shows a 25% increase in criminal damage and arson compared to the UK average, tied to the higher incidence of anti-social behaviour in local neighbourhoods. These figures illustrate how seasonal and geographical factors shape crime patterns, even within a relatively low-crime local authority.

December 2023 saw a sharp 56.3% increase in burglary cases, rising from 16 to 25. This surge, coupled with a 30% rise in drug-related offences, highlights a shift in criminal activity during the festive period. The drop in vehicle crime by 29.6% (from 27 to 19) may reflect reduced traffic and fewer commuters during the holiday season. Meanwhile, possession of weapons fell by 85.7%, likely influenced by seasonal factors such as fewer public gatherings. Violence and sexual offences remained 15% above the UK average, with 3.0 per 1,000 residents, despite a 43.8% decrease in 'other crime' cases. These trends underscore the combination of seasonal activity and local crime dynamics. A resident might find the 56.3% burglary increase particularly concerning, given the holiday-related vulnerability of unoccupied homes.

Bolsover's December 2023 crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents represents a -1.2% decrease from the previous month’s 6.9, indicating a stable trend over the year-end period. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 18 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the consistent nature of local crime patterns. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure translates to 1 reported crime for every 146 residents, a metric that provides context for individual risk perception. This rate remains 5.6% below the UK average, suggesting Bolsover’s policing strategies or community factors may contribute to its relative safety. The population size of 83,773 further contextualises these figures, highlighting that even with 573 total crimes, the overall impact per capita remains moderate compared to national benchmarks. This stability contrasts with some monthly fluctuations in specific crime categories, which will be explored in the highlights section.