Great Harwood Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

December 2023 marked a stark contrast in crime trends for Great Harwood, a built-up area within Hyndburn. The overall crime rate of 5.9 per 1,000 residents placed the area 18.1% below the UK average, a position that highlights its relatively lower exposure to crime compared to the national context. This discrepancy is most evident in the distribution of crime types, where anti-social behaviour emerged as a significant outlier. At 1.4 per 1,000 residents, this category was 51% above the UK average, a figure that may be influenced by the seasonal dynamics of December. The month’s darker evenings, coupled with the festive season’s social gatherings, could have created conditions conducive to such incidents. Violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 40% of all crimes, remained the most prevalent category.4 per 1,000 was 8% below the UK average. This suggests a nuanced interplay between local factors and broader national patterns. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson, though low in absolute terms, surged by 600% compared to the previous month, reflecting the impact of seasonal events or targeted vandalism. The area’s crime profile thus illustrates a complex relationship between community-specific characteristics and the broader seasonal influences that shape crime patterns. With the holiday season often bringing both increased social activity and heightened security measures, the December data offers a snapshot of how these elements interact in a smaller built-up area.

December 2023 saw sharp increases in criminal damage and arson, which rose by 600% from one incident to seven, and drugs-related crimes, which more than doubled from one to three. These jumps contrast with significant declines in burglary, which fell by 77.8% from nine to two, and other theft, which dropped by 62.5% from eight to three. The crime mix shifted with violent crimes accounting for 40% of all incidents—slightly below the UK average for this category—while anti-social behaviour, at 23.1% of total crimes, was 51% higher than the national average. This disparity may reflect local factors such as the area’s seasonal rhythms, with holiday-related disruptions potentially contributing to anti-social incidents. Residents may find the 62.5% drop in other thefts particularly noteworthy, as it suggests a possible reduction in opportunistic crimes during the month.

Great Harwood's crime rate in December 2023 fell to 5.9 per 1,000 residents, marking a 26.2% decline from the previous month’s rate of 8.0 per 1,000. This drop aligns with the typical seasonal pattern observed in built-up areas during December, when holidays and reduced retail activity may temporarily dampen certain crime types. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly 2 crimes per day over the month, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 169 residents over the course of December. This monthly exposure rate suggests a relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres, though it remains important to contextualise this against the local population of 10,955. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while individual incidents may be infrequent, the impact of each crime on the community is significant. This contrast with the UK average, where crime rates are consistently higher, underscores the unique dynamics of this built-up area within Hyndburn.