Forest of Dean Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences accounted for 45.7% of all crimes in Forest of Dean in September 2023, making this the dominant category driving the area’s crime profile. With a total crime rate of 5.7 per 1,000 residents, the district recorded 510 crimes, a figure that is 28.7% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area’s relatively low crime environment, which is consistent with its rural character and limited urban density. The breakdown of crimes reveals a focus on interpersonal offences, with anti-social behaviour and public order incidents also contributing significantly. Seasonal factors may play a role in this pattern: as September marks the end of the summer holidays and the start of the academic year, the influx of students and the associated social activity could contribute to the rise in violent crime. However, the overall rate remains stable, with property crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime far below national levels. The area’s crime picture is further shaped by its geography—remote from major urban centres, with fewer opportunities for theft and less concentrated populations. The seasonal context of back-to-school and university freshers may also explain the spike in violence, as social interactions increase in pubs, community centres, and local events. Despite this, the overall safety profile of Forest of Dean remains markedly better than the UK average, a trend that has persisted across multiple months.

September 2023 saw a 13.7% increase in violence and sexual offences, the dominant crime category in Forest of Dean, rising from 205 to 233 incidents. This category remains 5% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, a notable contrast to the national trend. Concurrently, possession of weapons surged by 400%, jumping from one to five incidents, a sharp rise that may reflect seasonal factors such as university freshers’ week and increased social activity. Conversely, shoplifting and bicycle theft both declined sharply—by 42.1% and 66.7% respectively—suggesting a seasonal dip in retail-related crimes as the area transitions into autumn. The overall crime mix remains skewed towards violent and anti-social offences, with property crimes accounting for just 25% of the total, a stark deviation from the UK average where property crimes typically dominate.

Forest of Dean's crime rate in September 2023 stood at 5.7 per 1,000 residents, a 2.6% decline from the previous month's rate of 5.8 per 1,000. This slight reduction aligns with the local context of a largely rural area where crime tends to remain stable year-round. On a daily basis, the district recorded approximately 17 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the relatively low density of population and limited urban infrastructure. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 176 residents, a statistic that contextualises the monthly exposure in human terms. This rate remains significantly lower than the UK average, highlighting the area’s distinct safety profile. The population-scaled perspective underscores that even with the rise in violent crime, the overall impact on residents remains proportionally minimal compared to national trends.