Wingate Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

January 2026 presented Wingate with an unusually stark crime picture, driven by an unexpected spike in shoplifting that accounted for nearly a third of all reported incidents. At 12.1 per 1,000 residents, Wingate's crime rate was 77.9% above the UK average of 6.8, a gap that highlights the area's distinct challenges. Shoplifting, at 3.5 per 1,000 residents, far outpaced the UK average by 514%, making it the most prominent anomaly. This figure may be partly explained by the built-up nature of Wingate, where high concentrations of retail premises could create conditions conducive to such offences. Violence and sexual offences followed closely, at 2.6 per 1,000, just 4% above the UK average, suggesting a more moderate deviation in this category. Anti-social behaviour, at 2.0 per 1,000, was 115% above the UK average, reflecting the area's compact urban layout, which can amplify the impact of such incidents. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday, with reduced retail footfall and shorter days—may have contributed to the persistence of property crimes despite lower outdoor activity. However, the absence of a corresponding drop in violent crime suggests other factors, such as local social dynamics, may be at play. While direct causal links, the combination of these trends illustrates an area where retail-focused crime remains a persistent issue, even as other categories show more nuanced patterns.

The most striking change in January 2026 was the 200% surge in 'other crime,' which rose from 1 to 3 incidents. This category, while vague, may include unclassified or emerging types of criminal activity. Anti-social behaviour also saw a 120% increase, growing from 5 to 11 incidents, a rise that may reflect heightened tensions during the post-holiday period. Equally concerning was the 100% increase in possession of weapons, which jumped from 0 to 3 incidents—a figure that, while small, signals a troubling shift. Conversely, burglary, drugs, other theft, and vehicle crime all declined, with burglary falling by two-thirds (from 3 to 1). This decrease, while welcome, may partly reflect seasonal factors such as reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours. Shoplifting remained the most common crime, accounting for 29.2% of all incidents, a rate 514% above the UK average. This disparity underscores the unique challenges faced by Wingate's retail sector, which appears to be a primary target for such offences.

Wingate's crime rate in January 2026 rose 10.2% compared to December 2025, from 10.9 to 12.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest in percentage terms, translates to an additional 6 crimes reported over the month. On a daily basis, Wingate experienced roughly 2 crimes per day in January, a figure that highlights the persistent presence of criminal activity despite seasonal factors. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for every 83 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Wingate in a markedly different category compared to areas with lower population densities. While this statistic does not account for variations in population size or geographic spread, it provides a tangible measure of risk for residents. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Wingate's crime rate remains high relative to its size, with the built-up area's compact nature likely amplifying the impact of each incident on the community.