Ashbourne Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Ashbourne's crime profile in August 2023 was marked by an unusual concentration of public order offences, which stood at 1.1 per 1,000 — 83% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This category, which includes disturbances, noise complaints, and disorderly conduct, accounted for 11.9% of all reported crimes, the third-highest share after violence (34.5%) and anti-social behaviour (16.7%). The overall crime rate of 8.9 per 1,000 was 9.9% above the UK average, a divergence that may be partially explained by August's peak holiday season, which typically sees increased foot traffic in Ashbourne's historic and commercial centres. Violence and sexual offences dominated the breakdown, making up 34.5% of all crimes — 17% above the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This could reflect the social dynamics of a built-up area within a rural district, where local festivals or events may contribute to higher incidents of assault. Anti-social behaviour, at 1.5 per 1,000, was 4% above the UK average, likely tied to the same seasonal factors. The area's low rates of burglary (0.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) — 41% and 59% below UK averages, respectively — suggest that Ashbourne's rural character and lower population density may act as natural deterrents to property-related crimes.

August 2023 saw dramatic spikes in 'other crime' (+300%), 'other theft' (+133.3%), and 'drugs' (+100%), driven by a jump from 1 to 4 incidents in the 'other crime' category. These increases contrast sharply with declines in burglary (-50%) and shoplifting (-37.5%), suggesting shifting patterns in criminal activity. Public order offences stood at 1.1 per 1,000, 83% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000, a stark outlier. This surge may be linked to August's peak tourism season, with increased foot traffic in Ashbourne's historic core. The 'other crime' category's 300% rise is particularly noteworthy, as it includes unclassified incidents that may require further scrutiny. Meanwhile, vehicle crime and burglary both fell below UK averages, with vehicle crime at 0.2 per 1,000 (59% below the UK rate of 0.5), due to reduced car usage during the summer holidays.

Ashbourne's crime rate in August 2023 rose 31.3% compared to July's 6.8 per 1,000, reaching 8.9 per 1,000. This places the area 9.9% above the UK average, a notable divergence. On a daily basis, 3 crimes were reported each day in August, translating to one crime for every 112 residents over the course of the month. While this monthly exposure is a local metric, it highlights the density of incidents relative to the population. The previous month's rate was 6.8, indicating a sharp upward trend. This shift may reflect seasonal factors, such as increased foot traffic during August's peak holiday period, which could heighten opportunities for public order offences and anti-social behaviour. The population-scaled perspective shows that while the rate is elevated, the absolute number of crimes remains relatively low in a small built-up area.