Herefordshire Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile for Herefordshire in May 2024 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property-related offences, shaped by the area's character as a largely rural district with significant urban centres. Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime mix, accounting for 41.8% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (16.3%) and public order offences (7.6%). This distribution suggests a focus on interpersonal conflicts and community-level disruptions, which may be influenced by Herefordshire's mix of historic towns and open countryside. The overall crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents places the area 38.1% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, indicating a generally safer environment compared to national trends. Seasonal factors in May, such as longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising during bank holidays, likely contribute to the prominence of violence and public order offences. The relatively low rates of property crimes like burglary (0.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) contrast with the higher proportion of violent incidents, which may reflect the area's lower population density and reduced opportunities for opportunistic theft. These patterns align with typical rural-urban dynamics, where community cohesion and limited anonymity can influence crime types. The data also shows that Herefordshire's rates for anti-social behaviour and public order offences are significantly below UK averages, suggesting effective local policing or community engagement strategies in these areas.

May 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with theft from the person rising by 150% (from 2 to 5 incidents) and robbery increasing by 50% (from 4 to 6). These spikes may reflect heightened outdoor activity during May's longer evenings. Conversely, possession of weapons fell by 68.8% (from 16 to 5), and bicycle theft dropped by 58.3% (from 12 to 5), possibly due to seasonal changes in outdoor activity or improved security measures. The crime mix also shows Herefordshire's rates for violence and sexual offences (2.2 per 1,000) are 23% below the UK average, while anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) is 38% below the national figure. Property crimes, though lower in absolute terms, remain a concern in specific contexts: vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) is 57% below the UK average, but this may be partly due to Herefordshire's lower population density and fewer urban centres. Residents might note that while violent crime rates are higher than some property-related offences, the overall environment remains significantly safer than the UK average, with 38.1% fewer crimes per 1,000 residents.

Herefordshire's crime rate in May 2024 (5.2 per 1,000) marks a 10.8% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.8 per 1,000, reflecting a downward trend in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 32 crimes per day in May, a figure that, while seemingly high, is contextualised by Herefordshire's population of 191,047. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 193 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in the area. When compared to the UK average, this places Herefordshire in a safer position, with its crime rate 38.1% below the national figure. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area's lower crime density may be attributed to its rural character, where community policing and lower population density can mitigate certain types of crime. This contrast becomes evident when considering that UK averages often reflect more densely populated urban areas with higher rates of property crimes and public order offences. Herefordshire's data thus illustrates how geographic and demographic factors can shape crime profiles, offering residents a sense of security that aligns with the area's historical and social context.