Hereford Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2025, Hereford’s built-up area recorded 453 crimes across a population of 61,582, translating to a crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents. This rate is 5.7 percentage points higher than the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000, marking a slight but notable divergence. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (40% of total crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (14.1%) and criminal damage and arson (11.9%). These figures align with seasonal patterns typical of December, a month marked by heightened retail activity, extended periods of darkness, and increased social gatherings. The spike in violence and sexual offences may be partly explained by the convergence of festive events and the closure of some commercial premises during holidays, potentially creating environments where incidents are less likely to be witnessed or reported promptly. Meanwhile, the elevated rate of criminal damage and arson—73% above the UK average—could reflect the challenges of managing empty homes during the Christmas period, a known risk factor for such crimes. Anti-social behaviour, though lower in absolute terms, remains a persistent issue, exacerbated by the seasonal concentration of transient populations in the area.

December 2025 saw significant fluctuations in crime types compared to November. Vehicle crime surged by 133.3%, rising from 3 to 7 incidents, a shift that may be attributed to increased vehicle movement during the Christmas shopping rush. Similarly, possession of weapons increased by 100%, from 3 to 6 reports, suggesting a potential link to heightened tensions during the festive season or unseasonal gatherings. Criminal damage and arson also rose sharply, with a 58.8% increase from 34 to 54 incidents—well above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. Conversely, burglary fell by 58.3%, from 12 to 5 cases, possibly reflecting the seasonal closure of some homes and businesses, reducing opportunities for such crimes. Drug-related offences declined by 51.7%, from 29 to 14, a trend consistent with the UK average but notable for Hereford’s context. The data also reveals a stark contrast in category-specific performance: while violence and sexual offences exceeded the UK average by 13%, public order offences were 9% below the national benchmark. For residents, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson may be of particular concern, as it suggests vulnerabilities in property management during the holiday season.

Hereford’s crime rate in December 2025 (7.4 per 1,000) represents a 5.5% decrease from November’s rate of 7.8 per 1,000, indicating a modest but measurable downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 15 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the scale of activity within the built-up area’s population. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 136 residents—a monthly exposure rate that, while higher than the UK average, reflects the local dynamics of Hereford’s urban environment. When viewed through a population-scaled lens, the 7.4 per 1,000 rate suggests that crime remains a relatively frequent occurrence for residents, albeit not at an extreme level. The comparison to November’s rate highlights the volatility of monthly crime trends, with factors such as seasonal transitions, the timing of school holidays, and weather conditions potentially influencing the observed changes. While the overall rate remains above the UK average, the 5.5% decline from the previous month underscores the importance of contextualising crime statistics within their temporal and environmental frameworks.