Ashbourne Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Ashbourne during April 2024 reveals a distinct pattern that reflects the area's character as a small built-up area within a rural district. With a crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents — 46.8% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000 — the data suggests a relatively low overall crime environment. The most significant proportion of crimes (48.7%) falls into the category of violence and sexual offences, followed by public order (10.3%) and vehicle crime (7.7%). This distribution contrasts with national trends, where property crimes typically dominate. The prevalence of violent offences may be linked to the area's seasonal context: April coincides with the Easter holiday period, which often brings increased foot traffic, social gatherings, and potentially heightened interpersonal tensions in smaller communities. Meanwhile, the exceptionally low rates of property crimes, such as vehicle crime (36% below the UK average) and other theft (46% below), align with the characteristics of a low-density, rural-adjacent area where opportunities for such crimes may be more limited. The data also shows that anti-social behaviour and shoplifting rates are significantly below UK averages, consistent with the quieter, more community-focused nature of Ashbourne compared to larger urban centres. This balance of crime types — prioritising personal safety over property crime — suggests that local factors, such as strong community cohesion or limited commercial activity, may play a role in shaping the area's crime profile. However, the spike in public order offences during April warrants further consideration, particularly in light of the Easter period's potential to amplify public space interactions.

April 2024 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories, revealing shifts in local dynamics. Public order offences surged by 300% (from 1 to 4 incidents), likely driven by increased public activity during the Easter holiday period. Similarly, vehicle crime and other theft both rose by 200%, suggesting either targeted criminal activity or seasonal vulnerabilities in vehicle security. These increases contrast sharply with the 60% decrease in anti-social behaviour (from 5 to 2 incidents), possibly indicating a seasonal dip in alcohol-related incidents or a shift in criminal focus. The crime mix also shows a marked imbalance: violent crimes (19 incidents) far outweighed property crimes (11 incidents), with violence and sexual offences alone accounting for nearly half (48.7%) of all reported crimes. This stark contrast to the UK average, where property crimes typically dominate, reinforces the idea that Ashbourne's crime profile is shaped by local factors rather than national trends. Violence and sexual offences in Ashbourne are 22% below the UK average (2.0 vs 2.6 per 1,000), suggesting that while violent crime is present, its scale is lower than expected for a built-up area. Residents may find the 200% increase in vehicle crime particularly relevant, as it highlights a specific vulnerability that could be addressed through targeted measures such as improved street lighting or community awareness campaigns.

Ashbourne's crime rate in April 2024 (4.1 per 1,000) represents a 50.2% increase compared to March's rate of 2.8 per 1,000, indicating a notable upward trend over the past month. This rise, while significant, still leaves the area well below the UK average, with crime levels remaining 46.8% lower than the national figure. On a daily basis, Ashbourne experienced approximately one crime per day in April — a figure that, while low, may raise concerns for residents given the recent spikes in specific categories. When viewed through the lens of population, the monthly exposure of 1 crime per 242 residents illustrates that the vast majority of the area's 9,440 residents are unaffected by crime on any given day. However, this aggregate statistic masks the concentrated nature of recent incidents, particularly in the violence and public order categories. The comparison also highlights the area's exceptional performance in certain categories: anti-social behaviour rates are 84% below the UK average, and shoplifting incidents are 70% below national levels, suggesting that Ashbourne's community-oriented environment may act as a deterrent to certain types of crime. These figures, when contextualised with the area's rural-adjacent setting and small population, illustrate a place where crime is both rare and largely confined to specific, manageable categories — a contrast to the more diverse and frequent crime patterns observed in larger urban areas.