Hereford Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

May 2023 saw Hereford’s crime rate reach 8.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 5.0% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 47.6% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (16.1%) and public order offences (7.0%). The seasonal transition into longer evenings and bank holidays likely contributed to increased socialising in public spaces, which may partly explain the elevated rates of violent and public order crimes. While property crimes remained relatively low compared to the UK average, the dominance of violent offences contrasts with trends in other UK areas where property crime often exceeds violence. Hereford’s built-up area, which includes a mix of historic town centres and suburban housing, appears to experience a unique balance of crime types, with retail and hospitality sectors potentially driving anti-social behaviour. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.8 per 1,000, but Hereford’s rate of 4.0 per 1,000 suggests a localised concentration of incidents, linked to the town’s role as a regional hub for services and transport. This pattern aligns with data from similar mid-sized UK towns where community events and seasonal transitions correlate with spikes in violent crime.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in May 2023 was a 100% increase in vehicle crime, rising from zero to five reported incidents. This jump, though small in absolute terms, highlights a previously unrecorded trend in Hereford’s built-up area, potentially linked to changes in parking patterns or increased vehicle activity during May’s extended evenings. Concurrently, drug-related offences rose by 50%, from eight to twelve cases, a shift that may reflect seasonal variations in illicit activity or changes in law enforcement focus. In contrast, burglary rates fell by 21.1% compared to April, aligning with a broader UK trend of declining property crimes. Hereford’s rate of violence and sexual offences (4.0 per 1,000) is 44% above the UK average, a disparity that could be attributed to the town’s role as a transport node and the presence of multiple educational institutions. The 150% above UK average rate for bicycle theft—though only 10 incidents—suggests a specific vulnerability in Hereford’s cycling infrastructure or local enforcement practices. Residents might find the 7.0% below UK average rate for public order offences (0.6 per 1,000) particularly noteworthy, as it contrasts with the higher rates of violence, indicating a nuanced crime profile that differs from many UK towns.

Hereford’s crime rate in May 2023 (8.4 per 1,000) marked a 3.0% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.6 per 1,000, suggesting a slight but measurable decline in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 17 crimes per day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for roughly every 120 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides context for residents, showing that while crime is present, it remains relatively infrequent on a per-person basis. When compared to the UK average, Hereford’s 5.0% above-average rate underscores the town’s distinct position within the national crime profile. However, this figure masks significant variations across crime categories: for instance, burglary rates are 35% below the UK average, while violence and sexual offences are 44% above. These disparities reflect Hereford’s unique demographic and geographic characteristics, including its status as a regional centre with a mix of historic and modern infrastructure. The population of 61,582 means that local crime trends are influenced by both the town’s compact built-up area and its integration with surrounding rural Herefordshire, creating a combination of urban and rural dynamics that shapes the crime profile.