Brighouse Crime Rate April 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Brighouse's crime rate in April 2023 stood at 9.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it 20% above the UK average of 7.5. This figure reflects a persistent challenge in maintaining public safety within the built-up area of Calderdale. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 46.8% of all reported incidents, followed by public order offences (13.6%) and criminal damage and arson (9.2%). These patterns align with Brighouse's character as a mixed-use urban centre with a significant retail presence, which may partly explain the prominence of public order and property crimes. The Easter period in April brought increased foot traffic to local shops and public spaces, a factor that could contribute to higher levels of both violent and property-related incidents. Seasonal dynamics also appear to influence crime trends, with spring weather encouraging more outdoor activity and increasing opportunities for anti-social behaviour and public disorder. While the overall crime rate remains elevated compared to the UK average, certain categories show marked divergence: anti-social behaviour rates are 32% below the UK average, suggesting a relatively lower incidence of this type of offence. This contrast may be attributed to local policing strategies or community engagement efforts, though such factors are not explicitly documented in the available data. The persistent gap between Brighouse's violent crime rate (4.2 per 1,000) and the UK average (2.6 per 1,000) highlights the need for targeted interventions in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations or social tensions.

April 2023 witnessed the most dramatic month-on-month shift in shoplifting, which surged by 140% from 5 to 12 incidents. This spike aligns with the Easter shopping period, a time when local retailers may experience heightened foot traffic and potential vulnerabilities in security measures. Concurrently, robbery rates doubled, with two incidents reported in April compared to one in March, though this increase remains within the small number of such crimes (0.1 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour also saw a sharp rise, increasing by 92.3% to 25 incidents. This category's growth may reflect the challenges of managing public spaces during peak holiday periods, though it is notable that Brighouse's anti-social behaviour rate (0.8 per 1,000) remains below the UK average (1.2 per 1,000). In contrast, other theft incidents fell by two-thirds (from 21 to 7), indicating improved security measures or reduced opportunities for such crimes. The most significant decline was in possession of weapons, which dropped by 66.7% from three to one incident. This decrease, while welcome, still leaves Brighouse with a rate (0.0 per 1,000) that is 100% below the UK average (0.1 per 1,000), a statistic that may reflect effective policing in this category. For residents, the 140% increase in shoplifting serves as a clear indicator of the need for heightened vigilance during peak retail periods, particularly in areas with high concentrations of commercial premises.

Brighouse's crime rate in April 2023 rose to 9.0 per 1,000 residents, a 3.6% increase from the previous month's rate of 8.7. This upward trend, though modest, underscores the volatility of crime patterns in the area. On a daily basis, the local figure of 10 crimes per day (295 total over 30 days) provides a tangible sense of the frequency of incidents, though this is a local metric without a direct UK counterpart. When viewed through the lens of population exposure, the data shows that over the course of April, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 111 residents—a monthly aggregate that contextualises the impact of crime on the community. This figure is particularly useful for residents seeking to understand the relative risk they face compared to the broader UK population. While Brighouse's overall crime rate exceeds the UK average, the local breakdown reveals nuanced differences: for example, anti-social behaviour rates are significantly lower than the UK average, suggesting that certain areas of the built-up environment may be better managed in terms of public order. The comparison with the previous month also highlights the fluctuating nature of crime, with a 3.6% increase in the overall rate but no consistent pattern across individual crime categories. This variability may reflect the influence of transient factors such as seasonal transitions or temporary events, though the data does not provide specific insights into such influences.