Forest of Dean Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Forest of Dean's overall crime rate in December 2024 stood at 4.6 per 1,000 residents, marking a 35.2% reduction compared to the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This performance places the area among the safest in the country for this month. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 45.5% of all reported incidents (186 cases). This was 18% below the UK average for the same category, suggesting a combination of local policing strategies and seasonal factors may have contributed to this trend. Anti-social behaviour followed closely with 21.8% of incidents (89 cases), though this category was 6% above the UK average, hinting at potential pressures from holiday-related activity. Other theft (7.3% of total crimes) and criminal damage (6.4%) remained lower than national averages, with the latter category recording a 43% reduction. The month's seasonal context—Christmas shopping, extended evenings, and holiday-related absences—likely influenced patterns, though the overall decline in crime suggests effective community engagement and enforcement efforts. The area's semi-rural character, with limited urban density, may also contribute to lower property crime rates compared to more densely populated regions.

December 2024 saw significant reductions in several crime categories, with shoplifting declining by 66.7% compared to November (from 9 to 3 cases). This drop may reflect holiday-related closures and reduced foot traffic in retail areas. Other crime also fell by 47.4% (from 19 to 10 cases), indicating a broader trend of reduced non-violent incidents. Conversely, possession of weapons rose by 200% (1 to 3 cases), and theft from the person doubled (0 to 1 case). Violent crimes, while remaining the most common category, were 18% below the UK average, with 2.1 per 1,000 residents compared to the national 2.6. Anti-social behaviour, however, was 6% above the UK average, a figure that may be attributed to the festive season's social dynamics. The data also highlights Forest of Dean's consistent underperformance in property crime categories: vehicle crime was 75% below the UK average, and burglary rates were 35% lower than national figures. Residents may find the 66.7% drop in shoplifting particularly notable, as it suggests a successful alignment of local retail security measures with seasonal demand.

December's crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000 residents marked a 7.9% decrease from November's 5.0 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained downward trend. On a daily basis, Forest of Dean recorded approximately 13 crimes per day in December, a figure that contextualizes the area's overall safety in terms of immediate risk. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 219 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than many urban centres. This statistic is particularly meaningful for residents, as it illustrates the relatively low likelihood of encountering crime in daily life. When compared to the previous month, the reduction in violent crimes (from 213 to 186 cases) and property crimes (from 122 to 90 cases) suggests that ongoing community initiatives may be yielding measurable results. The population-scaled perspective further underscores Forest of Dean's position as a low-crime area, with its 89,753 residents experiencing a crime rate that is 35.2% below the UK average. This combination of declining rates and manageable daily figures reinforces the area's status as a relatively safe place to live, despite the seasonal fluctuations observed in specific categories.