Leominster Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

February 2026 marked a significant shift in Leominster's crime profile, with violence and sexual offences surging by 41.4% month-on-month. The overall crime rate stood at 6.5 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 1.6% above the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This figure, though modest, reflects a stark contrast in the distribution of crime types, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 53.3% of all recorded incidents. Anti-social behaviour followed at 11.7%, while criminal damage and arson contributed 7.8%. These patterns align with the area's character as a built-up district within Herefordshire, where the absence of major urban infrastructure might paradoxically amplify interpersonal tensions during winter months. Seasonal factors likely play a role in this shift, as February’s low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull may contribute to a concentration of incidents in residential and community spaces. The rise in violent crime contrasts with a 61.5% drop in shoplifting, suggesting a seasonal reallocation of criminal activity away from retail hubs toward more personal or localized conflicts. The UK comparison further highlights the anomaly: while Leominster’s overall rate is only marginally above the national average, its violent crime rate is 47% higher than the UK figure for this category, a disparity that may reflect local demographic or socioeconomic factors. This data underscores the need for targeted interventions in areas experiencing heightened interpersonal crime, particularly during the winter months.

The most dramatic month-on-month change in February 2026 was the 41.4% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 29 to 41 incidents. This jump, which outpaced all other categories, signals a marked shift in the crime mix toward more severe offences. Conversely, burglary fell by 75% (from 4 to 1), the largest proportional decline of any category, potentially reflecting improved security measures or seasonal inactivity in residential areas. Shoplifting also dropped sharply by 61.5% (from 13 to 5), aligning with the winter lull in retail foot traffic typical of smaller market towns like Leominster. The area’s violent crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 (53.3% of total crimes) is 47% above the UK average for this category, a stark deviation that may indicate local vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour decreased by 60.9% (from 23 to 9), suggesting that community-focused policing or environmental factors may have contributed to this decline. For residents, the most immediate takeaway is the spike in violence, which could be linked to the closure of local amenities during colder weather, pushing interactions into more confined or volatile spaces. The 100% increase in 'other crime' and 'drugs' categories also raises questions about emerging patterns, though these remain small in scale compared to more prevalent offences.

February 2026 saw Leominster’s crime rate fall to 6.5 per 1,000, a 19.8% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.1 per 1,000. This decline, though modest, translates to a local daily crime count of approximately 3 incidents per day over the 28-day period. For context, this means that over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 155 residents, a figure that may feel more tangible to local residents than abstract statistics. The drop in the overall rate is driven by a 75% reduction in burglary and a 61.5% fall in shoplifting, both of which align with the seasonal slowdown in outdoor activity and retail turnover. However, the rise in violence and sexual offences complicates the narrative, as this category’s increase offsets some of the gains made in other areas. The population-scaled perspective is particularly instructive: with 11,924 residents, the 77 reported crimes represent a relatively low level of exposure compared to larger urban centres, though the concentration of violent incidents may create a perception of heightened risk in specific neighbourhoods. This contrast between overall trends and individual crime types underscores the importance of granular analysis in understanding local patterns, rather than relying solely on aggregate figures.