Market Harborough Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For residents of Market Harborough, the crime rate in May 2024 translates to a per-capita risk of 5.7 crimes per 1,000 people, a figure that is 32.1% below the UK average. This places the built-up area within Harborough firmly in the safer end of the national spectrum. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 35.6% of all reported crimes, the highest proportion, likely influenced by the extended daylight hours and bank holidays that characterise May. Shoplifting followed closely at 20.6%, a category that saw a 100% increase from April and remains 87% above the UK average—a stark contrast to the 52% reduction in criminal damage and arson, which may reflect seasonal changes in property-related crime. The area’s crime profile also shows a significant gap between local and national trends: while shoplifting and public order offences exceed UK averages, categories like burglary and anti-social behaviour are well below. This divergence may be attributed to Market Harborough’s status as a market town, where retail activity drives certain crime types but community cohesion mitigates others. The seasonal context of May—longer evenings, increased socialising, and outdoor drinking—likely contributes to the rise in violence and public order offences, though the overall rate remains markedly lower than the UK average, illustrating the area’s unique crime dynamics.

May 2024 marked a sharp increase in bicycle theft, with reported cases doubling from zero to four, a 100% rise that may partly reflect seasonal patterns such as longer evenings and increased outdoor activity. Similarly, shoplifting surged by 100% compared to April, rising from 15 to 30 incidents, a spike that places the category 87% above the UK average. This contrast with the 50% drop in anti-social behaviour, which fell from 14 to seven cases, suggests shifting dynamics in community interactions. Meanwhile, the category of 'other crime' saw an extraordinary 500% increase, rising from one to six incidents—a jump that, while statistically significant, lacks immediate contextual clarity. These fluctuations underscore the need for local authorities to monitor emerging trends while maintaining the area’s overall safety profile, which remains 32.1% below the UK average.

Market Harborough’s crime rate in May 2024 rose 3.7% from April’s 5.5 to 5.7 per 1,000 residents, a slight upward trend but still 32.1% below the UK average. On a daily basis, this translates to roughly five crimes reported each day across the built-up area, a figure that may help residents contextualise risk in their local environment. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 176 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places the area in a safer bracket compared to many UK locations. This statistic, while not a daily measure, illustrates that the likelihood of encountering crime in Market Harborough remains relatively low for most residents. The population context further reinforces this: with 25,763 residents, the 146 total crimes reported in May represent a manageable proportion of the community, though the specific nature of those crimes—such as the sharp rise in bicycle theft—demands closer attention for targeted local action.