The question of why violence and sexual offences appear prevalent in Houghton on the Hill is understandable given the available data. Houghton on the Hill, a Built-Up Area (BUA) within Harborough, has a recorded crime rate of 54.1 per 1,000 residents. This figure is notably higher than the United Kingdom's average crime rate of 91.6 per 1,000. It’s important to interpret this statistic carefully, as a higher crime rate doesn’t necessarily equate to a less safe area.
Despite the elevated crime rate, Houghton on the Hill boasts a safety score of 88 out of 100, which is significantly above the UK average of 79. This suggests that while crime does occur, residents likely perceive the area as relatively safe, or that reported crime doesn’t always translate to a feeling of insecurity. It's crucial to remember that crime rates are simply numbers and don’t capture the full picture of community safety.
Understanding the type of crime is also vital. While the data specifies violence and sexual offences as areas of concern, it doesn’t provide a breakdown of other crime categories. It's possible that a relatively small number of serious offences are disproportionately impacting the overall crime rate, while other crimes (such as theft or minor vandalism) are less prevalent.
Furthermore, factors such as population density, socioeconomic conditions, and reporting practices can all influence crime rates. Houghton on the Hill has a population of 1738, and the interplay of these factors within such a small community can skew statistics. A smaller population means that even a relatively small number of incidents can have a significant impact on the per capita crime rate.
It's also important to acknowledge that crime statistics can be influenced by increased reporting, improved data collection methods, or changes in policing strategies. Without a historical comparison of crime data for Houghton on the Hill over a longer period, it’s difficult to determine whether the current crime rate represents a recent trend or a long-standing issue.