Herefordshire Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Herefordshire during May 2025 reveals a distinct profile shaped by both local demographics and seasonal factors. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 40.8% of all crimes, making them the most prevalent category — a rate of 2.3 per 1,000 residents, 19% below the UK average. This suggests that while violent crime remains a concern, the area's overall safety in this category is notable. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 14.2%, with a rate of 0.8 per 1,000 residents — 44% below the UK average. These figures may reflect Herefordshire's mix of rural and semi-urban areas, where community cohesion and policing efforts likely contribute to lower levels of disorder. The presence of shoplifting at 9.8% of total crimes, though 10% below the UK average, hints at the influence of retail hubs in the area, particularly during the extended shopping hours associated with May. Seasonal factors such as longer evenings and the start of the summer social season may have driven the rise in public order offences, which saw an 85.1% increase from April. This shift in crime mix aligns with Herefordshire's character as a largely rural district with pockets of urban activity, where the balance between community policing and seasonal dynamics plays a critical role in shaping crime patterns.

Public order offences saw the most dramatic increase in May, rising by 85.1% to 87 incidents — a stark contrast to the 47 reported in April. This surge may partly explain the overall 5.2% monthly increase in crime rates, despite declines in other categories. Shoplifting also climbed by 26.5%, potentially linked to the seasonal influx of tourists and longer shopping hours during May. Conversely, theft from the person fell by 71.4%, from seven to two incidents, indicating a possible reduction in opportunistic crimes in crowded areas. Herefordshire's violent crime rate of 2.3 per 1,000 residents is 19% below the UK average, a consistent trend that underscores the area's relative safety in this category. Vehicle crime, at 0.1 per 1,000 residents, is 75% below the UK average, likely reflecting Herefordshire's lower density of urban centres where such crimes are more common.

Herefordshire's crime rate in May 2025 rose by 5.2% compared to April, moving from 5.4 to 5.6 per 1,000 residents. This slight increase, though modest, aligns with the seasonal context of longer evenings and increased social activity typical in May. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 35 crimes per day, a figure that, while locally specific, provides a tangible sense of the pace of reported incidents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 178 residents, a monthly exposure rate that reflects the overall low crime environment in Herefordshire relative to the UK average. When considering the population of 191,047, this translates to a manageable level of risk for most residents, though the rise in public order offences suggests a need for continued monitoring of community engagement and policing strategies in high-traffic areas.