Liskeard Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Liskeard's built-up area recorded a crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 residents in October 2023, 40% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This figure, though historically low, shows a 7.2% increase from September, reflecting the combination of seasonal factors and local dynamics. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences (27.1% of total crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (20.3%) and shoplifting (15.3%). The seasonal context of October — with clocks going back, darker evenings, and the Halloween period — may have contributed to an environment where crime is more likely to occur in public spaces. While violent crime remains significantly below the UK average, the rise in shoplifting and other theft highlights a shift in criminal activity patterns. This could be linked to the area's character as a smaller town with a mix of retail and community spaces, where opportunities for theft may increase during the autumn months. The data also shows that Liskeard's crime profile differs from larger urban areas, with property crimes (45.8% of total) dominating over violent crime, a trend consistent with other rural and semi-rural regions. However, the sharp rise in 'other theft' and the 125% increase in shoplifting suggest a need for targeted awareness, particularly in areas with high foot traffic or during late-night hours. Local authorities may need to consider the impact of seasonal events and lighting conditions on crime rates as they plan for the coming months.

The most alarming trend in October 2023 was the 600% surge in 'other theft' crimes, rising from 1 to 7 incidents. This dramatic increase, though still below the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 for the category, may partly explain the overall rate's 7.2% monthly rise. Shoplifting also climbed by 125%, with 9 incidents reported — 21% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This spike could be linked to Halloween, as darker evenings and seasonal shopping activity may have created opportunities for such crimes. In contrast, anti-social behaviour fell by 47.8% (23 to 12 incidents), a decrease that aligns with the UK-wide trend of 22% below the national average for the category. Violence and sexual offences, at 16 incidents (27.1% of total crimes), remained 52% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, but the 5.9% monthly decline suggests a stabilisation in this category. Residents should be particularly vigilant around retail areas and during late evening hours, given the sharp rise in shoplifting and other theft.

Liskeard's crime rate rose 7.2% from 4.4 to 4.8 per 1,000 residents in October 2023 compared to September, marking the first increase in the built-up area's monthly rate this year. While this remains 40% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, the shift underscores the need for vigilance. Locally, the monthly exposure figure shows that over October, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 210 residents — a statistic that, when contextualised against the area's population of 12,388, illustrates the relatively low frequency of crime but also the concentrated nature of incidents in specific pockets. Daily crime context reveals an average of two crimes reported each day in Liskeard, a figure that aligns with the town's character as a smaller built-up area within Cornwall, where crime tends to cluster rather than spread widely. This pattern is consistent with other rural and semi-rural regions, where limited public spaces and community networks may reduce the overall spread of criminal activity.