Herefordshire Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2025, Herefordshire recorded a crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents, placing it 30% below the UK average of 7.0. This translates to roughly one crime for every 204 residents over the course of the month, a figure that may seem abstract but becomes tangible when considering local patterns. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, accounting for 40.3% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (13.9%) and criminal damage and arson (10.9%). These figures align with the seasonal context of December, a time marked by Christmas shopping, extended dark evenings, and the logistical challenges of holiday travel, which may contribute to heightened tensions or opportunities for certain types of crime. The rate of violent crime in Herefordshire was 22% below the UK average, suggesting a relatively safer environment for residents compared to other parts of the country. The lower prevalence of property crimes—such as shoplifting (30% below UK average) and vehicle crime (73% below UK average)—may reflect a combination of local policing strategies and the area’s character as a mix of rural and semi-urban communities with fewer high-density retail or nightlife hubs. While the festive season typically sees spikes in certain crime types, Herefordshire’s data indicates a consistent trend of lower-than-average rates, influenced by the region’s quieter, more spread-out nature compared to larger cities.

December 2025 saw distinct shifts in crime patterns compared to November, with some categories rising sharply while others declined. Possession of weapons increased by 100%, from 8 to 16 incidents, a significant jump that may reflect seasonal factors such as increased alcohol consumption during the festive period. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson rose by 20%, potentially linked to the heightened presence of holiday decorations and the logistical strain of managing temporary structures in public spaces. Bicycle theft also increased by 12.5%, which could be attributed to the seasonal demand for cycling as a form of exercise or commuting during colder months. In contrast, drug-related crimes fell by 34.9%, due to law enforcement efforts or reduced social gatherings during the holiday season. Robbery rates dropped by 28.6%, and burglary by 27.3%, both of which may be explained by the increased number of homes left unoccupied during the Christmas holidays, deterring potential offenders. Herefordshire’s performance in several categories—such as shoplifting (30% below UK average) and vehicle crime (73% below UK average)—suggests a local environment where property crime is less prevalent, due to the area’s lower population density and more dispersed residential patterns. These findings underscore the importance of context-specific factors in shaping crime trends, even within a single month.

Herefordshire’s crime rate in December 2025 stood at 4.9 per 1,000 residents, a 6.1% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.2. This decline, while modest, highlights a potential stabilization in local crime dynamics as the year drew to a close. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 30 crimes per day, a figure that, while seemingly high, must be contextualized within the broader population of 191,047 residents. Over the course of the month, the likelihood of a resident encountering a reported crime was roughly 1 in 204, a monthly aggregate that may appear low when compared to the average person’s daily experiences but reflects the overall trend of lower-than-average crime rates in Herefordshire. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area’s crime burden is significantly lighter than the UK average, with several categories—such as anti-social behaviour (25% below UK average) and public order offences (32% below UK average)—indicating a more orderly community compared to other regions. This comparative advantage may stem from Herefordshire’s mix of rural and semi-urban landscapes, where community cohesion and the physical separation of residential areas could act as natural deterrents to certain types of crime. However, the sharp increase in possession of weapons remains a concern, suggesting that localized challenges—related to alcohol-related incidents or seasonal disputes—require targeted attention from local authorities.