St Austell Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

St Austell’s January 2024 crime rate of 10.2 per 1,000 residents places it 37.8% above the UK average of 7.4, a marked disparity that reflects the area’s unique dynamics. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences (33.6% of total), followed by shoplifting (12.6%) and anti-social behaviour (9.7%). These figures contrast with the UK’s average distribution, where violence accounts for 31% of all crimes. The post-holiday period in January, characterised by shorter days and reduced retail activity, may have influenced these patterns. For instance, shoplifting rates, though lower than in December, remained 128% above the UK average, possibly due to St Austell’s reliance on high-street retail and the lack of major out-of-town shopping centres. Meanwhile, public order offences surged by 228.6% month-on-month, a trend that could be linked to colder weather driving more indoor gatherings or social tensions. The area’s crime profile also shows a stark contrast in categories: while theft from the person was 38% below the UK average, vehicle crime and criminal damage were 60% and 40% above, respectively. These disparities may be explained by St Austell’s built-up character, where vehicle-related incidents are more common in urban settings. The seasonal context of January—shorter days and post-holiday lulls—may also contribute to fluctuations in certain crime types, though the overall rate remains consistently elevated compared to national benchmarks.

January 2024 saw sharp increases in vehicle crime (+850%), public order offences (+228.6%), and possession of weapons (+100%), suggesting emerging patterns that may reflect seasonal or local factors. Conversely, shoplifting dropped by 42.6%, possibly linked to reduced retail footfall after the holiday season. Violent crimes, though not increasing, remained 31% above the UK average at 3.4 per 1,000, a concern for residents. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences, both rising significantly, highlight tensions that may be exacerbated by colder weather or post-holiday social dynamics. These shifts contrast with a 28.6% decrease in other crime, indicating fluctuating pressures across categories. For residents, the 8 crimes per day figure offers a tangible sense of the local burden, though this rate remains below the UK’s overall daily average when scaled to population size.

St Austell’s crime rate in January 2024 rose slightly to 10.2 per 1,000 residents, a 2.9% increase from the previous month’s 10.0. This places the area 37.8% above the UK average of 7.4, highlighting a persistent divergence from national trends. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 8 crimes per day, a figure that, while locally specific, underscores the frequency of incidents in a built-up area of Cornwall. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 98 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, when contextualised against the population of 24,127, illustrates the scale of incidents relative to the community. This rate is higher than the UK average, which suggests a need for targeted local strategies. The comparison to the UK also reveals that while some crime categories align closely with national patterns, others—such as shoplifting and public order offences—exhibit stark disparities, indicating unique local dynamics.