Denbighshire Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences were the dominant force in Denbighshire’s crime profile in January 2024, accounting for nearly half of all reported crimes. At 8.7 per 1,000 residents, the area’s overall crime rate was 17.6% above the UK average of 7.4, underscoring a persistent challenge in maintaining public safety. This figure is driven primarily by the 404 incidents of violence and sexual offences, which alone exceeded the UK average by 58% (4.1 per 1,000 vs 2.6 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 19.5% of total crimes and sitting 72% above the national average. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail activity—may partly explain the elevated levels of violent crime, as lower visibility and colder weather can contribute to increased tensions in public spaces. Meanwhile, property crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime remained significantly below UK averages, with vehicle crime 80% lower than the national rate. This divergence highlights the combination of local factors, including the area’s rural-urban mix, where concentrated populations in towns may drive higher violent crime rates, while sparsely populated areas see fewer property-related incidents. The data also reveals a notable shift in the crime mix, with violent crimes comprising 47.5% of total incidents compared to property crimes’ 22.5%, indicating a stark contrast to the UK profile, where property crime often dominates. This imbalance suggests that local social and economic conditions, such as the presence of schools, community hubs, or transient populations, may contribute to the higher prevalence of violent offences. As January progressed, the reduction in daylight hours and the end of the Christmas shopping season likely influenced crime patterns, though the exact mechanisms remain difficult to quantify without further analysis. The month’s statistics provide a snapshot of a community grappling with persistent violent crime while managing lower rates of other categories, a profile that demands targeted interventions to address root causes.

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in January 2024, contributing 47.5% of all reported incidents—58% above the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This category’s prominence likely reflects the area’s social dynamics and seasonal factors, such as post-holiday tensions and reduced daylight hours. Anti-social behaviour saw a notable 22.1% increase from December, rising to 166 incidents, while burglary also climbed by 15.8% to 22 cases. In contrast, theft from the person plummeted by 75%, dropping from four to one incident—a decrease that may align with lower footfall in retail areas during January’s shorter days. Drug-related offences also fell by 21.1%, though this remains a small proportion of total crimes. These shifts highlight the variability in crime patterns, with some categories showing stark contrasts to UK averages, such as vehicle crime being 80% below the national rate.

Denbighshire's crime rate in January 2024 fell by 4.4% compared to December 2023, declining from 9.1 to 8.7 per 1,000 residents. This slight reduction contrasts with the overall rate remaining 17.6% above the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. Daily crime activity averaged 27 incidents per day, reflecting the persistent density of reported offences despite the monthly decline. Over the course of January, one crime occurred for roughly every 115 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for local residents. This rate, while lower than the previous month, still highlights the need for sustained community engagement and policing efforts, particularly in areas where violent crime and anti-social behaviour remain elevated compared to national averages. The population context further underscores that Denbighshire’s 98,202 residents experience a higher-than-average burden of crime, with implications for local resources and public safety strategies.