Rural Cornwall Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Rural Cornwall's crime profile in February 2026 reveals a marked dominance of violent crimes over property-related incidents, a pattern that diverges from typical rural crime trends. With a total of 406 crimes reported, the area's overall crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents is 46.9% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, underscoring a relatively safer environment compared to the national context. The most common crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 54.9% of all incidents (223 cases), with a rate of 1.9 per 1,000. This is 18% below the UK average for the same category, suggesting a combination of local policing efforts and community factors that may contribute to lower rates of violent crime. Property crimes, while still significant (111 cases), accounted for only 27.3% of the total, reflecting a shift from typical rural patterns where property crime often dominates. This imbalance may be influenced by the area's built-up character within Cornwall, where higher population density and social interactions could drive violent crime rates. Seasonal factors also play a role: February's low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull likely reduced opportunities for property crimes. The UK comparison further highlights that Rural Cornwall's rates for categories like criminal damage and arson (0.4 per 1,000, 13% below the UK average) and anti-social behaviour (0.2 per 1,000, 78% below the UK average) are markedly lower than national figures, pointing to a broader trend of lower crime severity in this area. These statistics collectively illustrate a rural area with a unique crime profile, shaped by both geographical and seasonal factors.

February 2026 saw a stark shift in crime dynamics, with drug-related offences surging by 120% compared to January, rising from 5 to 11 incidents. This increase, while significant, remained well below the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000, highlighting a localised trend. Conversely, vehicle crime fell sharply by 53.8%, dropping from 13 to 6, a reduction that may be linked to fewer outdoor activities during the winter months. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted: while violent crimes accounted for 54.9% of total incidents, property crimes saw a notable decrease, with shoplifting falling by 42.9% (14 to 8). This divergence suggests a complex interaction between seasonal factors and local conditions. For residents, the most immediate insight is the doubling of theft from the person cases, which rose from 0 to 1, indicating a rare but concerning spike in this category.

Rural Cornwall's crime rate in February 2026 fell to 3.4 per 1,000 residents, a 5.5% decrease from 3.6 per 1,000 in January. This marks a slight but consistent trend in the area's broader crime picture. On a daily basis, 14 crimes were reported over the 28-day period, a figure that translates to one crime occurring for roughly every 293 residents over the course of the month. While this monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, the population context provides a more nuanced perspective: with 119,128 residents, the area's lower crime rate suggests a safer environment compared to the national average. This contrast is particularly notable given the UK's overall rate of 6.4 per 1,000, with Rural Cornwall's figure nearly half that. The decrease in the crime rate from January may reflect seasonal patterns, as February's low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull could reduce opportunities for certain types of crime.