Herefordshire Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of nearly 191,000, Herefordshire recorded 928 crimes in January 2025, translating to a crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents. This figure is 31.0% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, a significant deviation that suggests a unique crime profile for this area. The breakdown reveals that violence and sexual offences accounted for 44.5% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (15.5%) and criminal damage and arson (7.8%). These figures indicate a pattern where interpersonal conflicts and property-related issues dominate the local crime profile. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail footfall—may partly explain the distribution of crimes, with fewer outdoor activities likely contributing to lower rates of vehicle crime and theft from the person compared to busier months. However, the presence of violent crimes at a level 12% below the UK average (2.2 vs 2.5 per 1,000) suggests that local factors, such as community cohesion or policing strategies, could play a role in mitigating certain types of crime. This month's data, therefore, illustrates a region where violent crime remains a concern but is less prevalent than the national average, while property crimes and anti-social behaviour remain persistent challenges requiring targeted interventions. The dominance of violence and sexual offences, despite the area's lower overall rate, highlights the need for localized approaches to address specific vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the significantly lower rates of shoplifting (52% below UK average) and vehicle crime (76% below) may reflect Herefordshire's rural character, where fewer commercial hubs and reduced vehicle density contribute to lower opportunities for such offences. These insights underscore the importance of contextualizing crime statistics within the area's unique demographic and geographic features, ensuring that policy responses align with the realities of local communities.

The month-on-month analysis reveals both increases and decreases in specific crime categories, highlighting shifts in local patterns. Violence and sexual offences rose by 18% from 350 to 413 incidents, a notable increase that may reflect seasonal dynamics or heightened tensions during the post-holiday period. Conversely, robbery incidents fell by 83.3%, dropping from 6 to 1, a dramatic decline that could be attributed to reduced foot traffic in retail areas or effective policing measures. Bicycle theft, however, saw a 100% surge, with numbers doubling from 3 to 6 cases, linked to colder weather prompting more indoor activities and less use of bicycles. Other crime also increased by 71.4%, from 14 to 24 incidents, a figure that may indicate evolving criminal tactics or unmet needs in the community. In comparison to the UK average, Herefordshire's violent crime rate remains 12% below the national benchmark (2.2 vs 2.5 per 1,000), while anti-social behaviour is 18% lower (0.8 vs 1.0 per 1,000). These disparities suggest that local initiatives or demographic factors may be influencing crime trends. However, the rate of possession of weapons is 67% above the UK average (0.1 vs 0.1 per 1,000), a concerning anomaly that deserves closer attention into local law enforcement strategies or community engagement efforts. These findings underscore the complexity of crime patterns, where some categories align with national trends while others diverge significantly, requiring nuanced approaches to address the unique challenges of Herefordshire.

Herefordshire's crime rate in January 2025 rose by 4.7% compared to December 2024, increasing from 4.6 to 4.9 per 1,000 residents. This slight uptick, though modest, may reflect seasonal shifts or localized factors influencing crime patterns during the post-holiday period. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 30 crimes each day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 206 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides a tangible measure of the risk faced by residents, though this is an aggregate figure and does not account for variations in daily activity levels. When considering the population of 191,047, the crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 places Herefordshire in a position where it is significantly safer than the UK average, yet the increase from the previous month suggests that vigilance and community engagement remain crucial. The daily crime count, while relatively low, serves as a reminder that even in areas with lower overall crime rates, individual incidents can have a cumulative impact on public perception and safety. The comparison to the UK average also highlights the importance of local factors in shaping crime trends, with Herefordshire's unique demographic and geographic characteristics likely contributing to its distinct profile. These figures, therefore, offer a nuanced perspective on the area's safety, balancing the broader national context with the specific realities faced by its residents.