Ushaw Moor and Bearpark Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Ushaw Moor and Bearpark’s August 2024 crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents placed it 19.5% below the UK average of 8.2. This performance contrasts with the area’s rural character, where lower population density and seasonal dynamics typically correlate with reduced crime. The most common crime category was violence and sexual offences (39% of total incidents), a figure 3% below the UK average. This may reflect the area’s limited nightlife and community-focused social spaces, which could mitigate opportunities for violent crime. Criminal damage and arson, however, were 77% above the UK average, an anomaly that may stem from the area’s historical architecture and summer weather conditions that increase fire risks. Anti-social behaviour (9.8% of incidents) was 58% below the UK average, consistent with the area’s small-scale community networks that likely foster quicker resolution of disputes. The seasonal context of August—peak holiday month—likely influenced patterns, with reduced tourism lowering shoplifting rates (now 58% below UK average) but increasing risks for burglary in unoccupied homes. These trends illustrate how local geography and seasonal rhythms interact with national crime patterns in a rural built-up area.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift was a 300% increase in 'other crime', which rose from one incident in July to four in August. This surge, while small in absolute terms, highlights a potential shift in criminal activity patterns. Concurrently, shoplifting fell by 71.4% (from seven to two incidents), possibly linked to fewer tourists in the area during August. Violent crimes also halved, dropping from 32 to 16, a change that may reflect reduced evening activity in local pubs and social spaces. Criminal damage and arson in the area (7 incidents) were 77% above the UK average, suggesting a localised issue that deserves closer attention. Meanwhile, 'other theft' doubled, though it remained 47% below the UK average, indicating a complex mix of local and national trends.

The crime rate in August 2024 fell sharply to 6.6 per 1,000 residents, a 39.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 10.9. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns in the area, where August’s peak holiday season typically sees reduced foot traffic in residential zones. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day in August, reflecting a manageable level of activity for a small built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 152 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for local households. This rate is lower than the UK average, but the daily figure provides a tangible sense of local crime frequency. The drop from July to August also contrasts with the UK’s broader trend of increased summer crime in urban areas, suggesting that Ushaw Moor and Bearpark’s rural character and seasonal dynamics may temper typical summer crime spikes.