Cottingham Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Cottingham’s overall crime rate for February 2024 stood at 5.3 crimes per 1,000 residents, marking a 25.4% reduction compared to the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This performance positions the area as significantly safer than the national benchmark, particularly in categories where local rates diverge sharply from national trends. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 37.1% of all reported incidents—20% below the UK average for this category. This suggests a combination of effective local policing and community engagement efforts in addressing violent crime. Shoplifting, while a notable concern, represented 15.7% of total crimes, 48% above the UK average. The winter months typically see reduced foot traffic in retail areas, yet Cottingham’s shoplifting figures remain elevated, possibly reflecting the town’s proximity to major transport links and shopping hubs in nearby cities. Seasonal factors may partly explain the overall lower crime rate, with February’s cold weather and shorter daylight hours likely reducing opportunities for outdoor-based crimes. However, the persistent gap in shoplifting rates highlights the need for targeted interventions in retail zones. The crime mix also shows a balance between property and violent crimes, with property-related offences (32 cases) slightly outnumbering violent crimes (26 cases). This contrast may reflect Cottingham’s character as a mixed-use built-up area with both residential and commercial spaces, where property crimes are more common in high-traffic zones. The lower-than-average rates for criminal damage and arson (7% below UK average) and other theft (45% below UK average) further underscore the area’s relatively stable crime environment. As the month progressed into spring, the pre-spring lull in activity may have contributed to the overall subdued crime profile, though specific patterns will require closer analysis in subsequent months.

February 2024 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with public order offences surging by 600% (from 1 to 7 cases), marking the most dramatic increase in the month. This jump may be attributed to the end of winter holidays and the transition into spring, which could have led to increased social gatherings and associated disruptions. Concurrently, drugs-related offences and possession of weapons both doubled from their previous month totals, rising to 2 cases each. These increases could signal emerging challenges in policing, particularly in areas with transient populations or unlicensed venues. However, other categories showed marked declines: other theft fell by 42.9% (from 7 to 4 cases), and criminal damage and arson decreased by 14.3% (from 7 to 6 cases). The drop in theft may reflect improved security measures in local businesses or a seasonal reduction in opportunistic crime. Violence and sexual offences, though remaining the most common category, were 20% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may be linked to the area’s relatively small population and strong community networks. Bicycle theft was 233% above the UK average, a stark contrast to the overall crime profile. This anomaly could be connected to Cottingham’s role as a commuter hub with cycling infrastructure that attracts both local and visiting cyclists. Residents concerned about personal safety may find the UK comparison data particularly useful, as it provides context for how local rates compare to national benchmarks.

The crime rate in February 2024 (5.3 per 1,000) marked a 45.9% increase from the previous month’s rate of 3.7 per 1,000, indicating a notable upward trend despite the overall lower-than-UK-average performance. This rise, however, was not evenly distributed across crime types, with public order offences and drugs-related incidents showing the most pronounced growth. On a daily basis, Cottingham experienced approximately 2 crimes per day in February, a figure that may seem high to residents but must be contextualised within the local population of 13,110. Over the course of the month, this translated to one reported crime for roughly every 187 residents—a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average in most categories. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Cottingham’s residents face a crime risk significantly below national levels, with the exception of shoplifting and bicycle theft. The previous month’s rate was lower, suggesting that external factors such as weather patterns or temporary events may have influenced the February figures. While the increase in public order offences is concerning, the overall stability in property crime rates and the continued below-average levels for violent crime suggest that local efforts to maintain safety have had a lasting impact. The comparison to the UK average also highlights the importance of focusing on specific areas of concern, such as shoplifting and bicycle theft, where local rates are higher than national trends.