Keighley Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Keighley's crime profile in May 2024, with a rate of 5.8 per 1,000 — 104% above the UK average. This category alone accounts for 42.7% of all reported crimes, reflecting a pattern that has persisted across recent months. The overall crime rate of 13.6 per 1,000 places Keighley significantly above the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, with the gap widening to 61.9% over the past year. Public order offences, at 1.7 per 1,000, also exceed the UK average by 170%, suggesting tensions in local community spaces. Anti-social behaviour, while slightly below the UK average, remains a persistent concern. Seasonal factors may contribute to these patterns: longer evenings in May have historically correlated with increased outdoor drinking and socialising in Keighley's town centre and surrounding areas, which could partly explain the rise in public order incidents. The high proportion of violent crime compared to property crime (violence: 42.7%, property: 29.6%) indicates a distinct challenge for local policing, with a focus on addressing interpersonal conflicts and disorder in high-traffic zones. This data aligns with Keighley's status as a commuter town with a mix of residential and retail areas, where population density and transient populations may amplify certain crime types.

May 2024 saw an 82.6% increase in public order offences compared to April, reaching 84 incidents — the highest monthly total for this category since 2022. This surge coincides with the May bank holiday and extended daylight hours, which may have encouraged more public gatherings and alcohol-related incidents in Keighley's town centre. Bicycle theft, though still minimal, rose by 100% (from 0 to 1 incident), linked to increased cycling during warmer weather. In contrast, vehicle crime fell by 42.9% (from 28 to 16), due to reduced car usage during holidays or improved security measures. The violent crime rate of 5.8 per 1,000 is 104% above the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000, highlighting a stark disparity in Keighley's safety profile. Residents should note that public order offences now account for 12.2% of all crimes — a 2.5% increase from the previous month — with 84 incidents reported in May alone. This figure is particularly striking given that the UK average for public order offences is just 0.6 per 1,000. The sharp contrast between Keighley's violent crime rates and its relatively low vehicle crime rates (0.3 per 1,000, 36% below the UK average) suggests a unique local dynamic, tied to the area's mix of urban and semi-rural characteristics.

Keighley's crime rate in May 2024 (13.6 per 1,000) represents a 5.0% decrease from April's 14.3 per 1,000, marking a small but notable downward trend. On a daily basis, 22 crimes were reported each day in May — a figure that may seem high but must be contextualised within Keighley's population of 50,588. Over the course of the month, 1 in every 73 residents experienced a reported crime, a statistic that illustrates the frequency of incidents in a relatively small urban area. While the overall rate remains elevated compared to the UK average, the month-on-month decline suggests some progress in addressing local crime challenges. This reduction is most pronounced in property crime categories, with vehicle crime falling by 42.9% and drugs offences decreasing by 40.0%. However, the persistence of violent crime at 42.7% of all incidents underscores the need for continued focus on community safety initiatives. The daily crime rate, while locally significant, is not directly comparable to UK-wide figures due to differences in population density and reporting methods. For residents, the 1-in-73 monthly exposure figure provides a tangible measure of risk, though it does not account for unreported crimes or variations in individual circumstances.