Crook Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Crook’s crime profile in October 2023 reveals a combination of local and national trends. The area’s overall crime rate of 10.6 per 1,000 residents places it 32.5% above the UK average, a discrepancy that highlights the influence of the built-up environment and its associated social dynamics. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 32.3% of all crimes, with 30 incidents recorded—a rate of 3.4 per 1,000, 26% above the UK average. This figure may be partly explained by the town’s role as a service hub within County Durham, where interactions between residents and visitors could contribute to higher rates of such offences. Anti-social behaviour, the second most common category, saw 23 incidents (2.6 per 1,000), 103% above the UK average, a statistic that may reflect the limited spatial dispersal of population in Crook’s built-up area. The seasonal context of October—darker evenings, the clocks going back, and Halloween—adds further nuance to these figures, as reduced visibility and increased foot traffic during festive events may temporarily elevate certain types of crime. Despite these challenges, the area’s crime picture remains consistent with broader regional patterns, where built-up communities tend to report higher rates of anti-social behaviour and violence compared to rural counterparts.

The most dramatic month-on-month swing in October 2023 was the 500% surge in 'other theft', rising from one to six reported incidents. This spike, though small in absolute terms, underscores a shift in criminal activity that may be linked to seasonal transitions, such as the return of school term activities or the Halloween period. Meanwhile, public order offences fell by 68.8% (from 16 to 5), suggesting a possible reduction in alcohol-related disputes or other disturbances typically associated with late-October events. Violence and sexual offences also decreased by 9.1%, though this drop remains within the broader context of Crook’s overall rate being 32.5% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour in the area is 103% above the UK average, with 23 incidents recorded—a figure that may reflect the area’s compact built-up nature and the concentration of social services in the town centre.

Crook’s crime rate in October 2023 rose 5.7% from the previous month, moving from 10.0 to 10.6 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend aligns with seasonal patterns observed in built-up areas of County Durham, where darker evenings and reduced visibility during October may contribute to increased incidents. Daily crime statistics show an average of three reported crimes per day, a figure that reflects the area’s compact nature and limited dispersal of population. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 94 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Crook within the upper range of similar-sized communities in the North East. This ratio, when contextualised against the area’s population of 8,762, highlights the density of incidents relative to the built-up environment, which may be influenced by the concentration of social services and public spaces in the town centre.