Herefordshire Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Herefordshire for May 2025 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property-related offences, offering insight into the area's social and environmental dynamics. With a crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000 residents, Herefordshire remains 30.9% below the UK average, a figure that underscores its relatively low levels of criminal activity compared to the national context. The most prevalent category of crime is violence and sexual offences, contributing 40.8% of all recorded incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 14.2% and shoplifting at 9.8%. This distribution suggests a focus on interpersonal crimes, which may be influenced by the area's community structure and the seasonal factors of May, such as extended daylight and increased social gatherings. Property crimes like burglary and vehicle crime are significantly below the UK average, with burglary at 2.9% and vehicle crime at 75% below the national figures. This could be attributed to Herefordshire's rural character, where open spaces and lower population density may reduce opportunities for such offences. The seasonal context of May, including bank holidays and longer evenings, appears to have a measurable impact on public order and anti-social behaviour, which rose sharply in the month. These patterns highlight the interplay between local geography, social habits, and crime trends, providing a nuanced picture of the area's safety profile.

May 2025 saw a marked increase in public order offences, rising by 85.1% compared to April, with incidents climbing from 47 to 87. This surge aligns with the seasonal context of longer evenings and bank holidays, which may have contributed to heightened outdoor socialising and associated disturbances. Shoplifting also rose sharply, increasing by 26.5% to 105 incidents, suggesting a possible link to retail activity during the month. Conversely, theft from the person dropped by 71.4%, falling from 7 to 2 cases, a decline that may indicate improved security measures or reduced opportunities for such crimes. The area's violent crime rate remains 19% below the UK average, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 40.8% of all recorded crimes. This mix of crime types highlights a balance between interpersonal offences and property-related incidents, distinct from the national trend where property crimes often dominate.

Herefordshire's crime rate in May 2025 rose by 5.2% compared to April 2025, moving from 5.4 to 5.6 per 1,000 residents. This slight increase, though modest, is consistent with the area's seasonal patterns, where longer evenings and bank holidays may encourage outdoor socialising. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 35 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the volume of incidents within the local community. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 178 residents, a metric that provides a clear snapshot of the monthly exposure to crime. This rate remains significantly below the UK average, underscoring Herefordshire's overall safety profile despite the small upward trend. The population context further highlights that even with the 5.2% increase, the area's crime levels remain proportionally lower than the national average, reinforcing its reputation as a relatively secure place to live.