St Ives Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In May 2024, St Ives (Cornwall) recorded a crime rate of 7.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 10.7% below the UK average of 8.4. This figure highlights a generally low crime environment for a coastal built-up area, though the composition of crimes offers insight into local dynamics. Anti-social behaviour dominated the crime profile, accounting for 52.5% of all incidents (21 cases), followed by criminal damage and arson (22.5%, 9 cases). These rates are 169% and 174% above the UK averages for their respective categories, suggesting a unique local context. The dominance of non-violent crimes contrasts with the 12.5% share of violent and sexual offences (5 cases), which are 68% below the UK average. This imbalance may reflect St Ives’ character as a tourist hub, where transient populations and seasonal activities like longer evenings in May—coinciding with bank holidays—could contribute to anti-social behaviour and property-related incidents. The low rates of burglary (2.5%, 1 case) and shoplifting (5.0%, 2 cases), both below UK averages, indicate that local measures—such as community policing or targeted interventions—may be effective in mitigating certain risks. However, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour and criminal damage compared to April underscores the need for ongoing monitoring of seasonal patterns, particularly as summer approaches.

May 2024 saw a dramatic surge in anti-social behaviour, which increased by 133.3% to 21 incidents—over half of all reported crimes. This spike, combined with a 200% rise in criminal damage and arson (from 3 to 9 cases), suggests a shift in local dynamics. These increases contrast sharply with the 64.3% drop in violent crimes, which fell to 5 from 14 in April. The property crime category (12 incidents) outpaced violent crime (5 incidents), a trend that may reflect St Ives’ coastal character, where transient populations and seasonal tourism could drive non-violent offences. Shoplifting and public order offences remained below UK averages, with shoplifting at 38% below the national rate. For residents, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour underscores the need for community vigilance during the summer season.

St Ives’ crime rate in May 2024 rose 17.7% from 6.3 to 7.5 per 1,000 residents, reflecting a shift in local patterns. While the overall rate remains 10.7% below the UK average, the daily crime count—roughly 1 incident per day—highlights the pace of activity in this coastal town. Over the month, one reported crime occurred for every 134 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for residents. This rate, though low by UK standards, aligns with St Ives’ character as a tourist destination where transient populations may contribute to spikes in certain crime types. The increase from April is consistent with May’s longer evenings and bank holidays, which often see heightened outdoor socialising and associated anti-social behaviour. However, the low burglary and shoplifting rates suggest that local efforts—such as community engagement or policing strategies—may be mitigating property crime risks in this built-up area.