Ashbourne Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Ashbourne's overall crime rate in May 2024 stood at 6.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it 28.6% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This marks a notable divergence from national trends, reflecting a relatively safer environment compared to the broader UK context. The breakdown of crimes reveals a stark contrast in crime types: violence and sexual offences accounted for 47.4% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (14.0%) and public order offences (8.8%). This pattern suggests a focus on interpersonal conflicts and community disruptions, which may be influenced by the area's character as a small built-up area within the rural Derbyshire Dales. Seasonal factors appear to play a role, as May's longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising align with the rise in violent crimes. The UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.8 per 1,000) is slightly lower than Ashbourne's 2.9 per 1,000, indicating a localised concentration of such incidents. Meanwhile, categories like anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime are significantly below the UK average, reflecting the area's lower population density and reduced urban pressures. These trends highlight a combination of local demographics, geographic isolation, and seasonal activity patterns that shape Ashbourne's unique crime profile.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in May 2024 was a 300% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 2 to 8 incidents. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in possession of weapons (from 1 to 2) and a 100% increase in burglary (from 0 to 1), underscores a sudden spike in disruptive and violent activities. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 66.7% (from 3 to 1), and shoplifting fell by 50% (from 2 to 1), suggesting a reallocation of criminal focus. Violent crimes, though remaining the most common category (27 incidents), were 2% above the UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.8 per 1,000), while anti-social behaviour was 38% below the UK average (1.4 per 1,000). This divergence highlights a localised trend towards interpersonal conflict over property crime, a pattern that may be influenced by Ashbourne's small community dynamics and seasonal social activity. Residents should note that the 300% jump in anti-social behaviour, while statistically significant, may be partly explained by increased reporting during longer evenings and bank holidays in May.

Ashbourne's crime rate in May 2024 (6.0 per 1,000) represented a 46.2% increase from the previous month's rate of 4.1 per 1,000, indicating a sharp upward trend over the past two months. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 2 crimes per day in May, a figure that, while modest, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents in a small built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 166 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average but comparable to other rural areas. This statistic underscores the relatively low crime density in Ashbourne despite the recent upward movement. The population context is critical: with 9,440 residents, even a small increase in crime rates translates to meaningful changes in local safety perceptions. The previous month's rate was 4.1 per 1,000, suggesting that the current rate may be influenced by temporary factors such as seasonal transitions or specific events in May, which warrant careful monitoring in subsequent months.