Market Harborough Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences remain the dominant category in Market Harborough’s crime profile, accounting for 43.3% of all reported crimes in December 2025. This is despite the area’s overall crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 residents—32.9% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000. The lower-than-expected rate for violent crime, which sits at 2.0 per 1,000 (22% below the UK average), may be influenced by the town’s character as a market town with a relatively stable population and limited nightlife compared to larger urban centres. Property crimes, while less prevalent than violent offences, still contribute 36.7% of all incidents, with shoplifting and other theft making up 20% of the total. Seasonal factors likely played a role in shaping these figures, as December’s Christmas shopping peak, dark evenings, and empty homes during the holidays may have created conditions that both deter and attract certain types of crime. For example, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour (83.3% increase) could be tied to increased socialising during the festive season, while the drop in burglary (66.7%) may reflect heightened home security efforts or reduced opportunities for property crime during the holidays. The data also highlights stark discrepancies between local rates and UK averages: anti-social behaviour is 57% below the national figure, and drugs-related crime is 63% below, suggesting that Market Harborough’s built-up area may benefit from lower levels of certain risk factors compared to other parts of the country. These patterns underscore the importance of understanding local dynamics—such as the town’s retail presence, community policing strategies, and seasonal rhythms—to interpret crime trends accurately.

December saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with robbery increasing by 100% (from zero to one incident) and anti-social behaviour rising sharply by 83.3% (from six to 11 incidents). These increases may reflect heightened social activity during the festive season, though the overall crime rate remains well below UK averages. Conversely, burglary fell by 66.7% (from nine to three incidents), likely due to increased home security measures during the holidays. Violence and sexual offences remained the dominant category, contributing 43.3% of all crimes and sitting 22% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. The sharp decline in possession of weapons (75% drop) and criminal damage and arson (52.9% drop) suggests that seasonal enforcement efforts or reduced public gatherings may have contributed to these decreases. Residents may find the 64% gap between local burglary rates and the UK average particularly noteworthy, indicating a strong local deterrent to property crime.

Market Harborough's crime rate in December 2025 fell slightly to 4.7 per 1,000 residents from 4.8 per 1,000 in November, a 2.3% decrease. This small decline aligns with typical seasonal patterns in built-up areas, where holiday-related activity may temporarily reduce certain crime types. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly four crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that remains consistent with local policing efforts and community engagement initiatives. When scaled to the population of 25,763, this translates to one reported crime for every 215 residents over the course of the month—a relatively low frequency compared to larger urban centres. The stark underperformance of several crime categories against UK averages, such as burglary (64% below) and anti-social behaviour (57% below), suggests that local factors—possibly including effective community policing or demographic characteristics—play a significant role in shaping the area’s crime profile.