Ushaw Moor and Bearpark Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 saw Ushaw Moor and Bearpark record a crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 4.2% above the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects a slight upward trend from November’s rate of 6.8 per 1,000, though the overall rate remains relatively low compared to larger urban areas. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 30.4% of all incidents, a category where the area’s rate of 2.3 per 1,000 was 10% below the UK average. This suggests a potential disconnect between local crime patterns and national trends, possibly influenced by the area’s built-up character and the concentration of incidents in specific locations. Anti-social behaviour, however, stood out as a significant concern, with 23.9% of all crimes falling into this category—91% above the UK average. This anomaly may be linked to the area’s small population and limited public spaces, which could amplify the impact of individual incidents. The seasonal context of December, with its long evenings and holiday-related disruptions, likely contributed to increased reports of public order offences and criminal damage, both of which rose sharply compared to the UK average. While direct causation, the alignment with typical December patterns—such as reduced visibility and increased social activity—suggests that these factors may have played a role in shaping the month’s crime profile. The overall picture, though modest in scale, underscores the need for targeted interventions in areas where localised issues, such as anti-social behaviour, consistently exceed national norms.

December 2024 marked a sharp 200% increase in 'Other crime', rising from one to three incidents, a spike that may reflect unseasonal activity or underreported incidents. Meanwhile, burglary rates fell by 50%, dropping from two to one case, a decrease consistent with seasonal patterns of reduced residential activity during winter holidays. The crime mix also shifted with violent crimes accounting for 30.4% of all incidents, slightly below the UK average for this category. Conversely, anti-social behaviour surged 91% above the UK average, a figure that may be influenced by the area’s built-up character and increased social gatherings during the festive season. These shifts highlight the combination of local demographics and seasonal factors, with public order offences also rising sharply, tied to the area’s limited policing resources during peak holiday periods.

The crime rate in Ushaw Moor and Bearpark rose by 9.5% in December 2024 compared to 6.8 per 1,000 in the previous month, reflecting a slight upward trend. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, highlighting the persistent nature of local incidents. When scaled to the population of 6,214, this equates to one crime occurring for roughly every 135 residents over the course of the month, a figure that contextualises the frequency of incidents for local residents. While this monthly exposure remains relatively low compared to larger urban centres, the increase from November suggests a need to monitor patterns closely. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that the area’s crime rate, though slightly above the UK average, does not indicate an extreme deviation, with the majority of crimes concentrated in specific categories. This analysis underscores the importance of viewing crime statistics within both local and national frameworks to avoid overgeneralisation.