Herefordshire Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Herefordshire's violent crime rate in September 2023 stood at 2.5 per 1,000 residents, 9% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. This marked the most significant divergence from national trends in the area, reflecting a pattern that has persisted through recent months. The local crime rate overall was 6.0 per 1,000 residents, 25% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This places Herefordshire among the safer areas in England and Wales, a position reinforced by the low prevalence of anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) and shoplifting (0.3 per 1,000), both well below national averages. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 41.2% of all reported crimes in the month, with 469 incidents recorded. This category, while significant, still remains lower than the UK average, suggesting a combination of effective local policing and the area's demographic characteristics. The seasonal context of September—back-to-school periods and the transition to shorter evenings—may have influenced patterns of anti-social behaviour and public order incidents, though these remain relatively low compared to other regions. The area's rural character, combined with a strong presence of educational institutions, likely contributes to the relatively low rates of vehicle crime and theft from the person, which were 58% and 100% below UK averages respectively. These factors, along with the low burglary rate (0.4 per 1,000), illustrate a community where crime prevention efforts and geographic characteristics intersect to maintain lower-than-average crime levels.

September 2023 saw an 180% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 15 to 42 incidents. This sharp rise may be linked to increased car usage during back-to-school periods or seasonal travel patterns. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 46.8%, dropping from 94 to 50, suggesting potential effectiveness of local retail security measures or reduced foot traffic in high streets. Theft from the person also saw a 100% increase, rising from 0 to 4 incidents, a figure that could reflect heightened awareness of personal safety during the transition to darker evenings. The burglary rate.4 per 1,000, was 25% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000, indicating a minor but notable divergence in property crime trends. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour remained significantly below the UK average at 0.9 per 1,000, a 33% deficit that may be attributable to the area's community-focused policing strategies. A resident might find the 58% reduction in vehicle crime particularly useful, as it suggests that targeted interventions in parking areas or road safety campaigns may be yielding results. The category of 'other crime' also saw a 50% increase, rising from 18 to 27, though this remains a small proportion of total reported incidents. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of local crime patterns and the importance of continuous monitoring to adapt to emerging trends.

Herefordshire's crime rate in September 2023 (6.0 per 1,000) represented a 2.1% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.1 per 1,000, indicating a slight but consistent downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 38 crimes per day, a figure that provides a tangible sense of local crime frequency. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 168 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Herefordshire in the lower quartile of English and Welsh local authorities. When compared to the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, the area's 25% deficit underscores the effectiveness of local crime prevention initiatives. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Herefordshire's 191,047 residents face a crime risk that is significantly lower than the national average, a factor that may be influenced by the area's rural nature and strong community engagement. The slight decline from the previous month's rate, while modest, suggests that ongoing efforts to maintain low crime levels are having a measurable impact. This includes initiatives targeting anti-social behaviour, which has remained 33% below the UK average, and the continued suppression of shoplifting incidents. The combination of these factors, along with the area's demographic profile, contributes to a crime environment that is markedly safer than the national average, though vigilance is required to sustain these improvements.