Forest of Dean Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Forest of Dean in July 2023 reveals a distinct balance of crime types, with violence and sexual offences dominating at 43.5% of all reported crimes. This is followed by anti-social behaviour (15.5%) and public order offences (10.5%), creating a mix that contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes typically hold a larger share. The overall crime rate of 6.3 per 1,000 residents—24.1% below the UK average—suggests a relatively safer environment, though the high proportion of violent crime may reflect the area’s social and economic dynamics. July, a peak summer month marked by festivals and outdoor events, likely contributes to the prominence of public order offences and anti-social behaviour, which saw a 34.6% drop from June. The lower-than-average rates for shoplifting (67% below UK) and vehicle crime (58% below UK) may be influenced by the area’s rural character and limited retail density compared to urban centres. While direct causes, the seasonal context of July—schools out, tourism at its height—may partly explain the distribution of crime types, with public spaces and events acting as both catalysts and focal points for incidents. The dominance of violent crime over property crime also hints at underlying factors such as community interactions or local policing strategies, though these remain speculative without further analysis.

July 2023 witnessed sharp increases in shoplifting (+162.5%) and vehicle crime (+150%), with shoplifting rising from 8 to 21 incidents. These jumps, though notable, remain 67% below the UK average for the category. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 34.6% to 87 incidents, a decline consistent with the area’s lower-than-average UK rate for this category. Violence and sexual offences, the most common crime type (43.5% of total), were 3% below the UK average, suggesting local efforts may be mitigating some risks. The absence of reported robberies in June, followed by one incident in July, highlights the volatility of low-frequency crimes. These shifts underscore the dynamic nature of crime patterns in Forest of Dean, where seasonal events and community initiatives may play a role in influencing trends.

Forest of Dean’s crime rate in July 2023 remained stable compared to June, declining by 2.8% to 6.3 per 1,000 residents. This slight reduction aligns with a broader trend of lower anti-social behaviour reports, which dropped by 34.6% month-on-month. The daily crime count of 18 incidents per day provides a tangible measure of local activity, though this figure does not directly compare to UK-wide daily averages. Over the course of July, one crime occurred for roughly every 159 residents, a statistic that contextualises the monthly exposure for the area’s population of 89,753. This rate, while lower than the UK average, reflects the district’s unique characteristics, where seasonal events and local demographics may influence reporting patterns. The population-scaled perspective suggests that while crime is present, it is not concentrated compared to the national context, offering reassurance to residents about the relative safety of the area.