Herefordshire Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Herefordshire’s December 2023 crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents places it 31.9% below the UK average, a figure that translates to a daily risk of encountering crime for roughly 30 residents out of every 1,000. This per-capita perspective illustrates how crime is experienced on a local level, with the area’s overall safety profile shaped by its rural and semi-rural character. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 41.1% of all crimes, the largest single category, yet their rate (2.0 per 1,000) remains 24% below the UK average—a discrepancy that may reflect both demographic factors and the influence of community cohesion in reducing violent incidents. Anti-social behaviour (14.2% of all crimes) and other theft (9.2%) followed as the next most common categories, both significantly below UK averages. The seasonal context of December, marked by Christmas shopping, party season, and extended evenings, likely played a role in shaping these patterns. For instance, the 54% increase in burglary could be linked to increased home absences during the holidays, while the 44.4% drop in vehicle crime may reflect reduced traffic and more cautious driving during the festive period. These dynamics underscore how local geography and seasonal rhythms interact to influence crime trends, even within a broadly safe region. Herefordshire’s crime profile, therefore, offers a nuanced picture of how low population density, rural isolation, and community structures contribute to a lower overall crime rate compared to the UK average, while still experiencing fluctuations tied to specific times of the year.

December 2023 saw notable shifts in crime types, with burglary rising by 54% to 77 incidents—a figure that, while still below the UK average for burglary (0.3 per 1,000), suggests a seasonal vulnerability linked to holiday-related home absences. Public order offences also increased by 38.5%, potentially influenced by the festive season’s social dynamics and darker evenings. Conversely, vehicle crime fell sharply by 44.4%, with only 15 incidents reported—78% below the UK average—a decline that may reflect reduced vehicle movement during the Christmas period or enhanced security measures in parking areas. Theft from the person saw a 100% increase, rising from 0 to 2 incidents. Herefordshire’s violent crime rate (2.0 per 1,000) remains 24% below the UK average, a consistency that may reflect the area’s rural character and lower population density. These fluctuations highlight how seasonal rhythms and local demographics shape crime patterns, even within a generally low-crime region.

Herefordshire’s December 2023 crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents represents a 5.7% decline from the previous month’s 5.2 per 1,000, reinforcing a consistent trend of lower-than-average crime levels compared to the UK. This reduction, though modest, aligns with patterns observed in rural and semi-rural areas, where population density and community networks often contribute to lower crime rates. Daily crime figures show 30 incidents reported each day in Herefordshire, a number that, while reflecting local activity, remains significantly below the UK average. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for roughly every 203 residents—a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relative safety of the area. This statistic, when contextualised against the local population of 191,047, highlights how crime is distributed across a largely rural landscape. The lower population density, combined with the area’s geographic isolation from major urban centres, may partly explain the reduced likelihood of encounters with crime compared to more densely populated regions. However, seasonal factors such as the festive period, which can influence both crime patterns and reporting rates, must also be considered in interpreting these figures.