Herefordshire Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 191,047, Herefordshire recorded 928 crimes in January 2025, translating to a crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents. This figure places the area 31% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, highlighting a consistently lower crime burden compared to the national picture. The distribution of incidents reveals a clear pattern: violence and sexual offences accounted for 44.5% of all recorded crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (15.5%) and criminal damage and arson (7.8%). These figures align with Herefordshire's character as a largely rural district, where urban-centric crime types such as vehicle theft and shoplifting are comparatively rare. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday period, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall—likely contributes to the observed patterns, as outdoor and commercial crimes tend to decline during this time of year. However, the relatively high proportion of violence and sexual offences may reflect local social dynamics, possibly influenced by the area's mix of urban and rural communities, where community engagement and support networks may play a role in both mitigating and, in some cases, exacerbating such incidents. The lower incidence of property crimes, such as shoplifting (52% below the UK average) and vehicle crime (76% below), underscores the area's unique profile, where economic activity and infrastructure differ from densely populated urban centres. This contrast suggests that Herefordshire's crime profile is shaped by its geographical and demographic characteristics, with fewer opportunities for certain types of crime but a persistent challenge in addressing interpersonal violence and disorder.

January 2025 saw an 18% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 350 to 413 incidents—a shift that may reflect post-holiday tensions or seasonal social patterns. Bicycle theft surged by 100%, jumping from 3 to 6 cases, possibly linked to increased winter cycling activity or targeted thefts in specific areas. Conversely, robbery and theft from the person both fell sharply, with robbery dropping 83.3% and theft from the person declining 75%, suggesting improved security measures or reduced opportunities in high-risk zones. Violence and sexual offences remain 12% below the UK average, while anti-social behaviour is 18% below the national rate, indicating Herefordshire's relatively lower incidence of these categories. The 71.4% rise in 'other crime'—a broad category encompassing unclassified incidents—highlights the need for more granular data to address emerging patterns, particularly in areas where crime reporting or classification may be inconsistent. For residents, the significant drop in robbery and theft from the person offers a tangible reassurance, reflecting the effectiveness of local initiatives such as improved street lighting or community policing efforts in key locations.

Herefordshire's crime rate in January 2025 rose to 4.9 per 1,000 residents, a 4.7% increase from the previous month's 4.6 per 1,000. This translates to approximately 30 crimes reported daily across the district, reflecting the frequency of incidents for local residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 206 residents, illustrating the scale of exposure within the population of 191,047. While this rate remains significantly lower than the UK average, the slight upward trend may be influenced by seasonal factors such as post-holiday activity patterns or shifts in community engagement during shorter daylight hours. The population-scaled perspective confirms that Herefordshire's crime burden remains proportionally lighter than the national average. increase warrants further examination of local dynamics, particularly in areas with higher foot traffic or transient populations. The daily crime count of 30 provides a tangible sense of the pace at which incidents occur, a figure that contrasts with the UK's typically higher daily rates in urban centres. For residents, this means that while the likelihood of encountering crime is low, the consistency of incidents necessitates vigilance in public spaces, especially during peak hours or in areas with limited surveillance.