Cottingham Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

December 2023 saw Cottingham's crime profile dominated by violent offences, which accounted for 53.9% of all reported incidents compared to property crimes at 27.7%. This stark imbalance contrasts with the UK average, where violent crime typically constitutes around 36% of total crimes. Cottingham's overall crime rate of 5.0 per 1,000 residents places it 30.6% below the national average of 7.2 per 1,000, reflecting a safer environment relative to the UK as a whole. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences (35 incidents), followed by other theft (6) and criminal damage and arson (6). This pattern aligns with seasonal factors in a built-up area: the Christmas shopping peak, dark evenings, and holiday-related absences likely contributed to the concentration of violent incidents in public spaces. While property crime rates were lower than the UK average for categories like shoplifting (39% below) and vehicle crime (56% below), the dominance of violent crime suggests community dynamics that may be influenced by local demographics or social interactions during the festive season. The relatively low levels of anti-social behaviour (78% below UK average) and public order offences (17% below UK average) indicate that Cottingham's residents may be experiencing fewer disturbances in communal areas compared to other parts of the country.

December 2023 marked a significant shift in Cottingham's crime mix, with violent crimes comprising over half of all reported incidents. This contrasts with the previous month, where property crimes may have held a larger share. Shoplifting plummeted by 78.9% compared to November, declining from 19 to 4 incidents, a drop that may reflect reduced retail activity during the festive period or increased security measures. Conversely, vehicle crime surged by 100% (from 1 to 2 incidents), linked to seasonal changes in parking patterns or increased vehicle movement around Christmas. The category of violence and sexual offences (35 incidents) was 3% above the UK average, despite Cottingham's overall rate being significantly lower. This anomaly could indicate specific local factors, such as heightened social interactions during holiday events or targeted issues in particular neighbourhoods. The absence of any recorded shoplifting incidents involving weapons (though possession of weapons rose by 100%) suggests that while armed crime remains low, there may be isolated incidents warranting further monitoring. For residents, the 78% reduction in shoplifting offers a tangible benefit, though the persistent prevalence of violent crime underscores the need for community-focused safety initiatives.

Cottingham's crime rate in December 2023 (5.0 per 1,000) represented a 16.6% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.0 per 1,000, illustrating a downward trend in overall criminal activity. This decline is reflected in the daily crime context, where the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day in December—a figure that, while modest, remains consistent with local patterns. When scaled to the population of 13,110 residents, the monthly exposure translates to 1 reported crime for roughly every 202 residents, a figure that is lower than the UK average for similar-sized built-up areas. This comparative safety is most pronounced in categories like anti-social behaviour (78% below UK average) and shoplifting (39% below UK average), suggesting that Cottingham's community may have effective informal social controls or community engagement strategies. However, the relatively higher rate of violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average (3% above) indicates that targeted interventions may still be necessary in this category. The month-on-month reduction in criminal damage and arson (60% decrease) and public order offences (44.4% decrease) further supports the notion of a generally improving security environment, though the persistence of violent crime at elevated levels relative to the UK average requires continued attention.