Lydney Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Lydney's September 2024 crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents places it 14.3% below the UK average of 7.7, reflecting a safer-than-average profile for this built-up area within the Forest of Dean. The crime picture shows a clear dominance of violent crimes, with 31 incidents (48.4% of total) reported, significantly exceeding the UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.6 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour (12 cases) and other theft (7 cases) follow as the next most common categories. This pattern contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes typically outweigh violent ones. The seasonal context of September—a time of back-to-school transitions and university freshers' arrivals—may contribute to the elevated violence rates, though the area's relatively low overall crime rate suggests community resilience. While violence is higher than the UK average, other categories like criminal damage and arson (46% below UK average) and public order offences (64% below) indicate pockets of lower risk. The area's character as a small town with limited nightlife and fewer commercial hubs likely reduces opportunities for certain crimes, aligning with the UK's overall trend of decreasing property crime. However, the prominence of violent incidents raises questions about local factors, such as community dynamics or policing strategies, that warrant further exploration.

September 2024 saw a 300% increase in burglary, rising from 1 to 4 cases, marking a sharp shift in the crime mix towards property-related offences. This contrasts with a 75% drop in vehicle crime, which fell from 4 to 1, possibly reflecting reduced summer travel activity. Violence and sexual offences also rose 19.2% month-on-month, driven by an increase from 26 to 31 incidents, despite the area's overall lower crime rate. This category is 22% above the UK average, highlighting a localised spike that may be linked to seasonal factors like the start of the academic year. Anti-social behaviour remained stable at 12 cases, but its rate (1.2 per 1,000) is 3% above the UK average, suggesting targeted issues in specific neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson (3 cases) and public order offences (2 cases) were below the UK average by 46% and 64% respectively, indicating lower levels of disorderly conduct compared to national trends. These variations underscore the need for tailored approaches to policing and community engagement, particularly in addressing the rise in violent crimes while maintaining the area's strengths in reducing other categories.

Lydney's crime rate remained stable at 6.6 per 1,000 residents in September 2024, matching the previous month's figure and demonstrating consistency in local crime trends. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day, a figure that aligns with the built-up nature of the Forest of Dean's communities. Over the course of the month, 1 crime was reported for roughly every 152 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. With a population of 9,713, this means the area's crime burden is distributed across a smaller community, potentially enhancing the visibility of local policing efforts. The stability in overall rates, despite fluctuations in specific categories, suggests that Lydney's crime profile is relatively predictable compared to the UK's more volatile trends. Residents may find the 1-in-152 monthly exposure figure useful for contextualising their personal risk, though this is a monthly aggregate and does not reflect daily variations. The area's lower-than-average rates in categories like vehicle crime and public order offences further highlight its distinctiveness within the national context, reflecting unique socioeconomic or geographic factors.