Herefordshire Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Herefordshire's crime profile in July 2024, accounting for 41% of all reported crimes. This category, at 2.2 per 1,000 residents, was 23% below the UK average of 2.9 per 1,000, highlighting a notable divergence from national trends. The overall crime rate of 5.3 per 1,000 residents was 36.9% lower than the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, a disparity consistent with Herefordshire's character as a district with a mix of rural and urban areas where community cohesion and lower population density may contribute to reduced crime levels. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, making up 18.4% of total crimes, also 31% below the UK average. The seasonal context of July—peak summer, school holidays, and increased tourism—likely influenced patterns, with festivals and outdoor events potentially contributing to higher reported incidents of violence and anti-social behaviour. However, property-related crimes, such as shoplifting and vehicle crime, remained well below national averages, suggesting effective local policing or environmental factors that deter such offences. The data underscores a combination of demographic factors, geographical spread, and seasonal activity, all of which may shape the district's crime profile differently than larger urban centres.

July 2024 saw a 42.9% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 21 to 30 incidents, a shift that may reflect heightened summer travel or changes in parking patterns. This was the most significant month-on-month rise, contrasting with a 28.6% decline in possession of weapons, which fell from 14 to 10 cases—possibly linked to increased police presence during summer events. Robbery incidents also dropped by 25%, from 4 to 3, though this remains a rare occurrence given the overall low rate. The crime mix shifted with violent crimes (41%) and anti-social behaviour (18.4%) dominating, compared to property crimes (27.4%) in previous months. This reflects a broader trend of violent offences being 36.9% below the UK average, with Herefordshire’s violent crime rate (2.2 per 1,000) significantly lower than the national figure of 2.9 per 1,000. Other theft and shoplifting also remained well below UK averages, with the former at 0.4 per 1,000 (32% below) and the latter at 0.4 per 1,000 (41% below). For residents, the sharp rise in vehicle crime highlights a specific area of concern, suggesting targeted measures could address this growing trend.

Herefordshire’s crime rate in July 2024 (5.3 per 1,000) marked a 5.3% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.6 per 1,000, a modest but consistent decline. On a daily basis, the district recorded approximately 33 crimes per day, a figure that, while lower than the UK average, is contextually meaningful for a local population of 191,047. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 188 residents—a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in Herefordshire compared to larger urban areas. When scaled to population size, the district’s overall crime rate remains strikingly below the UK average, with violent crimes, anti-social behaviour, and property-related offences all showing marked gaps. This suggests that factors such as community engagement, local policing strategies, or the district’s geographical spread may contribute to its safer profile. However, the increase in vehicle crime highlights a vulnerability that could be exacerbated by summer travel patterns, indicating a need for continued monitoring of specific offence types even as the overall rate remains low.