Stourbridge Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For an area with 57,910 residents, January 2024 saw 386 crimes reported — a rate of 6.7 per 1,000 people, 9.5% below the UK average of 7.4. This translates to one reported crime for every 150 residents over the course of the month, reflecting a relatively low overall crime burden compared to national benchmarks. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences (158 incidents, 40.9% of total), followed by shoplifting (65 cases, 16.8%) and anti-social behaviour (38 cases, 9.8%). These patterns align with January's seasonal context: post-holiday retail activity has typically waned, which may partly explain the 39% month-on-month decline in shoplifting compared to December 2023. However, the sharp 111.1% increase in anti-social behaviour suggests a different dynamic — potentially linked to colder weather driving more indoor gatherings or disruptions in community routines. Violence and sexual offences, at 2.7 per 1,000, remain 4% above the UK average, though this is a marginal deviation given the broader downward trend in overall crime rates. The area's character as a mixed-use town with both commercial and residential zones likely contributes to this balance, where public spaces host both economic activity and potential conflict points.

January 2024 saw stark contrasts in crime trends. Anti-social behaviour surged by 111.1% (18 to 38 incidents), the most dramatic increase of any category. This jump, while significant, remains below the UK average for anti-social behaviour (1.0 per 1,000). Conversely, shoplifting dropped 39.3% (107 to 65 cases), a decline that may reflect reduced footfall in retail areas after the Christmas period. Other notable shifts included a 55% reduction in other theft (20 to 9 cases) and a 50% decrease in robbery (6 to 3 cases), both of which contrast with the 66.7% rise in possession of weapons (3 to 5 incidents). The crime mix reveals an unusual divergence: while property crimes (164 total) accounted for 42.5% of all incidents, violent crimes (158 total) represented 40.9%, creating a near-parity between the two categories. This balance contrasts with the UK profile, where violence and sexual offences typically make up a smaller share of total crime. Shoplifting, at 1.1 per 1,000, remains 93% above the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), highlighting Stourbridge's specific vulnerabilities in retail environments. Residents might find the 39% drop in shoplifting particularly noteworthy, as it suggests that January's lower retail activity may have acted as a mitigating factor for this category.

Stourbridge's January 2024 crime rate (6.7 per 1,000) marked a 5.5% decrease from the previous month's 7.1 per 1,000, indicating a sustained downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 12 crimes per day — a figure that, while notable, remains consistent with the low overall rate. When viewed through a population lens, the monthly exposure of 1-in-150 residents encountering a reported crime offers context for local residents: over the course of January, a resident had a 0.67% chance of being directly involved in a crime. This is significantly lower than the UK average monthly exposure, which would be roughly 1-in-130 residents (based on the UK rate of 7.4 per 1,000). The 9.5% gap between Stourbridge and the UK average is particularly striking given the area's mixed urban-rural character — typically, such areas might see higher crime rates due to transitional demographics. However, the 39% reduction in burglary (0.5 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.4 per 1,000) suggests effective local measures in residential security. Meanwhile, the 29% deficit in anti-social behaviour (0.7 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (1.0 per 1,000) reinforces the notion that Stourbridge's community policing or environmental design may be contributing to a more controlled public space. These comparative metrics, when paired with the specific category trends, illustrate an area that is managing crime effectively but with distinct challenges in retail and personal safety.