Ross-on-Wye Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

January 2025 in Ross-on-Wye revealed an unexpected spike in 'Other crime,' a category previously unreported, alongside a doubling of 'Criminal damage and arson' incidents. These shifts contrast with the area’s overall crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents, which remains 7% below the UK average of 7.1. Violence and sexual offences (27 cases, 37% of total) and anti-social behaviour (18 cases, 24.7%) dominated the crime profile, though the latter exceeded the UK average by 63%. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday lulls, shorter days, and reduced retail activity—may have influenced patterns, with shoplifting falling 19% below the UK average. However, the surge in 'Other crime' and criminal damage suggests unanticipated factors at play, possibly linked to local events or environmental changes. Ross-on-Wye’s built-up character within Herefordshire, a region historically marked by lower crime rates, further contextualises these figures. The area’s population of 10,996 means each incident carries a measurable impact, yet the overall profile remains consistent with its rural-urban hybrid status. While property crimes (22) and violent crimes (27) balanced the mix, the unexpected rise in non-traditional categories deserves closer attention to emerging trends.

January 2025 saw a 100% surge in 'Other crime,' with two incidents reported for the first time in the category. This spike, alongside a doubling of 'Criminal damage and arson' cases (from 4 to 8) and a new report of 'Possession of weapons,' highlights an unexpected shift in crime patterns. These increases contrast with a 66.7% decline in 'Public order' offences, which fell from six to two. 'Anti-social behaviour' remained 63% above the UK average at 1.6 per 1,000, a figure that may reflect local dynamics such as community tensions or specific incidents. Meanwhile, 'Shoplifting' fell 19% below the UK average, consistent with reduced retail activity during January. For residents, the daily crime rate of two incidents per day offers a clear benchmark for assessing local safety trends.

Ross-on-Wye’s crime rate in January 2025 rose 30.5% compared to December 2024, moving from 5.1 to 6.6 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, aligns with the post-holiday season’s typical patterns of reduced foot traffic and colder weather. Daily crime figures show two incidents per day on average, a figure that may resonate with local residents as a tangible measure of safety. Over the course of the month, 1 in every 151 residents experienced a reported crime, a ratio that contextualises the scale of incidents within the community. This monthly exposure is lower than the UK average when scaled to the area’s population, reflecting Ross-on-Wye’s generally lower crime profile. The population of 10,996 means each incident carries a measurable impact, reinforcing the need for ongoing community engagement and policing strategies tailored to local needs.