Chapel-en-le-Frith Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In February 2026, Chapel-en-le-Frith recorded 40 crimes at a rate of 5.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 12.5% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This figure, when contextualised for the area’s population of 7,167, equates to roughly one crime per day—a statistic that, while low in absolute terms, reflects the challenges of maintaining safety in a small, historic community. The crime profile was dominated by violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 87.5% of all incidents, significantly outpacing the UK average for this category (111% above). This stark contrast raises questions about the local factors driving such a high concentration of violent crime, though the area’s seasonal context—February being a winter month with limited outdoor activity—may not fully explain the trend. Property crimes, in contrast, were minimal, with only two incidents reported, a reflection of the area’s low retail density and limited commercial activity. The breakdown also revealed a 76% deficit in other theft crimes compared to the UK average, suggesting that the area’s socio-economic profile, characterised by a mix of rural and semi-urban land use, may contribute to lower rates of non-violent property crime. These patterns align with Chapel-en-le-Frith’s historical and geographic identity as a small market town with limited urban infrastructure, where community cohesion and spatial constraints may influence both the incidence and visibility of crime. The seasonal context of February—typically a period of reduced social activity and colder weather—may also have played a role in shaping the crime profile, though the unexpected surge in violent incidents defies straightforward seasonal explanations.

The most striking development in February 2026 was the 169.2% increase in violence and sexual offences, which rose from 13 to 35 incidents—accounting for 87.5% of all crimes. This surge, despite the month’s typically low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull, contrasts sharply with the UK average for this category, which stood at 2.3 per 1,000 (111% below Chapel-en-le-Frith’s rate). Concurrently, public order offences doubled to two incidents, a figure 27% below the UK average. Meanwhile, drug-related crimes fell by 75%, aligning with the area’s 57% deficit compared to the UK average for this category. These shifts suggest a temporary reallocation of criminal activity, possibly influenced by local events or seasonal factors, though the spike in violence remains unexplained by the data. For residents, the dominance of violent crime—now 35 incidents in a single month—offers a stark reminder of the need for vigilance in public spaces.

February 2026 saw Chapel-en-le-Frith’s crime rate rise by 14.3% from 4.9 to 5.6 per 1,000 residents compared to the previous month, reflecting a shift in local crime dynamics. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the 28-day period, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for residents. When scaled to the population of 7,167, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 179 residents over the course of the month, a metric that underscores the relative frequency of incidents in a small, closely-knit community. While the overall rate remains 12.5% below the UK average, the sharp rise in violent crimes—now 111% above the UK average for this category—introduces a contrasting dimension to the area’s crime profile. This juxtaposition highlights the need to interpret local trends within both national benchmarks and the specific socio-economic context of Chapel-en-le-Frith, a historic market town with limited urban density that may influence the visibility and nature of certain crime types.