Dacorum Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

A sharp 150% increase in bicycle theft in May 2024 stands out as the most unexpected shift in Dacorum’s crime profile, despite the overall crime rate remaining 11.9% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000 residents. This surge in bicycle theft, from 2 to 5 reported incidents, contrasts with a 34.6% rise in violence and sexual offences and a 51.4% increase in public order offences. The district’s crime picture is shaped by its mix of urban and rural areas, where May’s longer evenings and bank holidays likely contributed to increased outdoor activity and associated risks. Violence and sexual offences (29.5% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (26.5%) remain the most common categories, but their rates are below UK averages for violence (23% below) and anti-social behaviour (38% above). Seasonal factors, such as extended daylight and socialising, may partly explain the rise in public order issues, though the bicycle theft spike appears unconnected to broader patterns. The district’s lower-than-average burglary and drug-related crime rates suggest a generally stable environment, though the unexpected surge in bicycle theft warrants closer examination of local cycling infrastructure or security measures.

Bicycle theft in Dacorum surged by 150% in May, jumping from 2 to 5 incidents—a stark outlier in an otherwise stable crime picture. This increase occurred despite the district’s overall crime rate remaining 11.9% below the UK average. Public order offences also rose sharply by 51.4%, potentially linked to May’s bank holidays and extended evenings, though no direct causal link can be confirmed. Violence and sexual offences, while up 34.6% compared to April, remain 23% below the UK average at 2.2 per 1,000 residents. Conversely, drug-related crime fell 52.2% (23 to 11 incidents), and robbery dropped 42.9% (14 to 8). The district’s anti-social behaviour rate (2.0 per 1,000) is 38% above the UK average, highlighting a specific challenge in managing community conduct. Residents may find the 150% increase in bicycle theft particularly noteworthy, as it contrasts with the district’s generally lower crime profile and could signal a need for targeted security measures.

Dacorum’s May 2024 crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents marked an 11.2% increase from the previous month’s 6.7 per 1,000.9% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 39 crimes per day in May, a figure that contextualises the monthly total of 1,199 incidents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 135 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average. With a population of 161,420, Dacorum’s crime statistics reflect a balance between urban centres—where anti-social behaviour and public order offences are more prevalent—and rural areas, where lower rates of burglary and drug-related crime are observed. The 11.2% month-on-month rise, while significant, does not indicate a long-term trend but rather a fluctuation that may be influenced by seasonal factors such as May’s extended evenings and increased outdoor activity. This comparison underscores the importance of viewing crime data within the context of local demographics and temporary environmental shifts.