Middlewich Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 14,469 residents, Middlewich recorded 93 crimes in January 2024, translating to a crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 people. This places the area 13.5% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, a notable distinction in a region where urban centres typically see higher rates. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences (47 incidents, 50.5% of total), followed by vehicle crime and public order offences (7 each, 7.5% of total). This mix of violent and property-related crimes contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes dominate. January’s post-holiday period, reduced retail footfall, and shorter daylight hours likely contributed to the lower overall crime rate compared to busier months. The dominance of violence and sexual offences may reflect local factors such as seasonal shifts in social activity or community dynamics, though these patterns remain consistent with broader regional trends in smaller built-up areas. Anti-social behaviour and other thefts were significantly below UK averages, suggesting effective local initiatives or demographic factors that mitigate these types of incidents.

January 2024 saw dramatic spikes in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime surging by 600% (from 1 to 7 incidents) and other thefts jumping by 500% (from 1 to 6). These increases, though statistically significant, remain below the UK average for vehicle crime (0.5 per 1,000). Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences decreased by 6% (from 50 to 47), though they still outpaced the UK average by 27% (3.3 vs 2.6 per 1,000). This category’s dominance highlights a local challenge, as Middlewich’s rate is among the highest for this type of crime in the UK. Conversely, anti-social behaviour was 60% below the UK average, and criminal damage and arson fell by 20% (from 5 to 4), possibly reflecting seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity during colder months. The sharp rise in drug-related offences (300% increase) may indicate changes in local policing strategies or shifts in community patterns, though can be inferred from the data alone.

Middlewich’s January 2024 crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents marked a 16.3% increase from December’s 5.5 per 1,000, a shift that may be attributed to seasonal transitions or localized factors. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 3 crimes per day, a figure that provides a tangible sense of local risk levels. Over the course of the month, 1 in 156 residents reported a crime, a metric that contextualizes the impact on the community. For a population of 14,469, this means that the total number of crimes (93) equates to roughly 0.6% of the population being directly affected. While Middlewich’s overall rate remains below the UK average, the area’s distinct crime profile—particularly the high rate of violence and sexual offences—contrasts with national trends where property crimes typically dominate. This divergence may reflect the area’s character as a smaller, built-up community within Cheshire East, where social interactions and local dynamics differ from larger urban centres.