Forest of Dean Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In August 2025, Forest of Dean recorded a crime rate of 5.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 29.6% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This figure marks a continuation of the area’s historically lower crime rates, a trend consistent with its status as a largely rural district with limited urban centres. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 38.7% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (26.0%) and criminal damage and arson (11.2%). These patterns align with the area’s character as a post-industrial town with a mix of residential and open spaces, where anti-social behaviour and property-related crimes are more likely to occur. Seasonal factors also played a role, with August—a peak holiday month—potentially increasing burglary risks due to empty homes. However, the overall crime rate for burglary remained exceptionally low, at 0.1 per 1,000, 63% below the UK average. This suggests that while seasonal shifts may influence certain crime types, the area’s broader environment, including its rural nature and lower population density, likely contributes to its consistently lower crime profile. The balance between violent and property crimes also reflects the area’s demographics, with violence and sexual offences being more prevalent than theft or vehicle crime, which are typically associated with urban centres.

The most dramatic month-on-month change in August 2025 was a 300% increase in robberies, with the category rising from 1 to 4 incidents. This spike, though small in absolute terms, highlights a significant shift in criminal activity. Concurrently, possession of weapons rose by 80%, moving from 5 to 9 cases—a figure that remains 11% above the UK average. In contrast, shoplifting fell by 33.3%, decreasing from 15 to 10 incidents, and drugs-related crimes also dropped by 33.3%, from 6 to 4. These decreases may reflect seasonal factors, such as reduced tourism during August’s peak holiday period, which could lower opportunities for petty theft. Violent crimes still dominated the crime mix, accounting for 38.7% of all incidents, though this category was 23% below the UK average. The sharp rise in robbery, however, contrasts with the overall trend of lower crime rates, suggesting localized pressures or changes in criminal behavior that warrant further attention.

Forest of Dean’s crime rate in August 2025 fell by 10.5% compared to July, dropping from 6.3 to 5.7 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with a broader trend of reduced property crimes, though violent crimes remained the largest category. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately 16 crimes reported each day in August, a figure that, while steady, reflects the local context of a largely rural district with limited urban density. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 177 residents—a rate that, when scaled to the population of 89,753, underscores the relatively low exposure to crime compared to the UK average. The monthly exposure statistic is particularly useful for residents, as it provides a tangible sense of how frequently crime occurs within the community. While the overall rate is down, the shift in crime types—such as the sharp rise in robbery—suggests a need to monitor specific categories for emerging patterns.