Charnwood Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Charnwood's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 5.8 per 1,000 residents, 12.1% below the UK average of 6.6. This translates to a per-capita risk of one crime for every 172 residents over the course of the month, a figure that provides a concrete lens through which to view local safety. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 37% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (12.3%) and shoplifting (12.1%). The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail footfall—may have influenced these patterns. While violent crimes saw an 8.2% monthly decline, likely tied to the waning effects of holiday-related activity, shoplifting and bicycle theft rose sharply, suggesting vulnerabilities in retail environments and cycling infrastructure. The area's crime profile contrasts with the UK average in several categories: violence and sexual offences are 10% below the UK rate, yet shoplifting and bicycle theft are 27% and 150% above, respectively. These disparities may reflect local factors such as the presence of high-traffic retail zones or unsecured bike storage, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections. The overall rate remains a testament to Charnwood's relative safety compared to the national average, but the specific spikes in certain crime types highlight the need for targeted interventions in areas where retail and cycling activity are concentrated.

January 2026 saw a significant 69.2% increase in shoplifting, with 132 incidents reported—a 27% rise above the UK average for this category. Bicycle theft also surged by 80%, jumping from five to nine cases, a stark 150% increase compared to the UK average of zero per 1,000. Conversely, crimes such as possession of weapons fell by 45.5%, and criminal damage and arson decreased by 16.5%, suggesting potential improvements in community safety initiatives or seasonal factors. The violence and sexual offences category, though still the most common crime type (37% of total), dropped by 8.2% from December, possibly linked to post-holiday reductions in alcohol-related incidents. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic nature of local crime patterns, with retail-focused crimes rising sharply while other categories showed declines.

Charnwood's crime rate in January 2026 rose by 3.6% from 5.6 to 5.8 per 1,000 residents compared to December 2025, reflecting a slight upward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 35 crimes each day, a figure that provides a tangible sense of local risk. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 172 residents, illustrating the frequency of incidents within the population. This monthly exposure rate is a useful metric for residents to contextualise their personal risk, though it does not account for variations in individual circumstances or geographic distribution within the district. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while the overall rate remains below the UK average, the localised nature of certain crimes—such as shoplifting and bicycle theft—may indicate specific vulnerabilities in particular areas or communities.