Brighouse Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Brighouse's crime rate in February 2024 stood at 7.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 8.5% above the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This built-up area within Calderdale, which balances urban infrastructure with surrounding rural landscapes, saw violence and sexual offences dominate the crime profile, accounting for 41.9% of all reported incidents. Public order offences followed at 11.9%, with shoplifting and criminal damage also contributing significantly to the overall rate. Seasonal factors appear to influence these patterns, as February—a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may have contributed to the prominence of indoor-related crimes such as violence and public disorder. The area's mix of retail spaces, community hubs, and residential zones likely creates conditions where such offences are more concentrated. While the overall rate remains elevated compared to national benchmarks, whether this reflects long-term trends or temporary fluctuations tied to local dynamics. The dominance of violent crime over property crime contrasts with some UK regions where property crime typically dominates, suggesting a unique local context that may involve factors such as community interactions, policing priorities, or socioeconomic conditions.

February 2024 saw sharp increases in shoplifting (130% year-on-year), robbery (100% increase), and vehicle crime (27.3% rise), while anti-social behaviour, drugs-related offences, and possession of weapons fell by 55.6%, 58.3%, and 66.7% respectively. These shifts highlight a combination of seasonal factors and local conditions. The 84% increase in public order offences compared to the UK average—where such incidents occur at 0.5 per 1,000—suggests a specific challenge in maintaining public spaces, possibly linked to Brighouse's mix of community venues and retail areas. Vehicle crime in Brighouse was 9% below the UK average, a figure that may reflect lower car ownership rates or effective local policing strategies. For residents, the 130% surge in shoplifting—now at 0.7 per 1,000—could indicate targeted retail areas or increased foot traffic during the month. This spike, combined with the 30% above-average rate for shoplifting nationally, may warrant closer attention from local businesses and authorities. Conversely, the 81% deficit in anti-social behaviour compared to the UK average could point to successful community initiatives or temporary factors such as reduced social gatherings during winter.

Brighouse's crime rate in February 2024 fell 12.4% compared to the previous month, dropping from 8.8 to 7.7 per 1,000 residents—a decline that aligns with the typical seasonal dip in crime seen during winter's end. Over the course of the month, this translates to roughly 9 crimes reported each day, a figure that, while lower than the preceding month, remains higher than the UK average. When scaled to the area's population of 32,750, the monthly exposure rate of 1 crime per 129 residents illustrates the frequency of incidents within a relatively compact built-up area. This contrasts with larger urban centres where higher population densities might dilute such rates. The decline from the previous month may reflect temporary factors such as shorter daylight hours reducing opportunities for outdoor crimes or targeted policing efforts. However, the persistence of several categories above UK averages—such as violence and sexual offences (28% above) and public order offences (84% above)—suggests structural issues that may not be fully addressed by short-term measures. These figures highlight the need for sustained strategies to address specific local challenges, even as the overall rate shows a downward trend from January.