Ledbury Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Ledbury’s September 2023 crime rate of 6.5 per 1,000 residents marked an 18.8% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 41.0% of all reported incidents, followed by criminal damage and arson (26.2%) and anti-social behaviour (14.8%). This pattern aligns with seasonal rhythms in a small built-up area within Herefordshire, where the transition from summer to autumn may influence local activity. The dominance of violent crime suggests a persistent challenge in community safety, though the rate remains lower than the national average. Anti-social behaviour, while below the UK average by 25%, may reflect the close-knit nature of the area, where incidents are more likely to be reported promptly. The relatively low rates of vehicle crime and burglary—58% and 69% below UK averages, respectively—could be attributed to Ledbury’s rural surroundings, which may deter opportunistic theft. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson, which will be explored in the highlights section, presents an outlier in this otherwise stable crime profile.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift was a 300% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from four to sixteen incidents. This surge, which brought the category’s rate to 1.7 per 1,000 (183% above the UK average), contrasts sharply with the 75% drop in burglary (from four to one incident) and 60% decline in other theft (from ten to four). These changes suggest a shift in criminal focus from property crimes to deliberate damage, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as the return of students to local schools and universities, which may contribute to increased anti-social activity. Violence and sexual offences remained the most frequent category, though their rate (2.7 per 1,000) was just 1% below the UK average—a narrow margin that highlights the area’s vulnerability to violent crime. The rise in drug-related offences (from zero to one incident) and other unspecified crimes (also from zero to one) indicates emerging trends that may warrant closer monitoring. Residents may find the 69% reduction in burglary reassuring, but the sharp rise in criminal damage underscores the need for community engagement strategies to address underlying causes.

Ledbury’s crime rate in September 2023 fell to 6.5 per 1,000 residents, a 6.2% decrease from August’s rate of 6.9 per 1,000. Over the course of the month, this equated to roughly one reported crime for every 154 residents—a figure that, while low, reflects the small population of 9,409. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the overall rate in terms of local exposure. When compared to the UK average, Ledbury’s performance stands out: its overall rate is 18.8% below the national benchmark, and several categories—anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, and burglary—were significantly below the UK average by margins exceeding 50%. However, the 183% increase in criminal damage and arson relative to the UK average highlights a stark deviation in this specific category. This contrast between Ledbury’s generally low crime profile and its spike in property damage suggests that localised factors, such as the timing of school terms or community events, may have played a role. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that, despite the rise in one category, the area remains comparatively safe, with most residents experiencing minimal direct exposure to crime.