Oswaldtwistle Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Anti-social behaviour dominated the crime profile in Oswaldtwistle during November 2023, accounting for 34.5% of all reported incidents and driving the area's overall crime rate to 9.9 per 1,000 residents. This figure is 32% above the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000, reflecting a persistent challenge in managing community disorder. The dominance of anti-social behaviour—30 cases in total—suggests a pattern tied to the built-up nature of the area, where close proximity of residents and limited public spaces may contribute to tensions. This category's rate (3.4 per 1,000) is 224% higher than the UK average, indicating a localised issue that could be influenced by factors such as community events, seasonal transitions, or the lack of dedicated public areas for recreation. Violence and sexual offences followed closely, contributing 28.7% of all crimes, with 25 incidents recorded. While this rate (2.8 per 1,000) is only 8% above the UK average, the proximity of this category to the national figure suggests that local policing efforts may be effective in mitigating more severe violent crimes. The seasonal context of November, with its darker evenings and events like Bonfire Night, likely amplifies anti-social behaviour and public order incidents, which together account for over 40% of all crimes. This highlights the need for targeted interventions during periods of increased community interaction and reduced visibility. Shoplifting, with 11 cases (12.6% of total crimes), remains a concern, though its rate (1.3 per 1,000) is 136% above the UK average, pointing to potential vulnerabilities in local retail security or the influence of Black Friday shopping activities. These trends underscore the importance of understanding how Oswaldtwistle's built-up character interacts with seasonal factors to shape its unique crime profile.

November 2023 saw a notable increase in 'other crime' incidents, which rose by 200% compared to the previous month, jumping from one to three reported cases. This category includes a range of non-specific offences that may reflect underreported or emerging criminal trends. Conversely, drug-related incidents fell sharply by 66.7%, from three to one, indicating a possible reduction in illicit activity or changes in reporting patterns. The category of violence and sexual offences also declined by 34.2%, dropping from 38 to 25 cases—a shift that could be linked to seasonal factors such as shorter evenings and the absence of large-scale events typically associated with increased alcohol consumption. Shoplifting, however, saw a minor 8.3% decrease, from 12 to 11 incidents, a trend that may be influenced by the Black Friday shopping period and heightened retail security measures. These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of crime in Oswaldtwistle, where specific categories are significantly above or below the UK average, particularly anti-social behaviour, which is 224% higher than the national rate.

Oswaldtwistle's crime rate in November 2023 remained stable compared to October, falling by just 1.1% to 9.9 per 1,000 residents. This slight decline suggests a consistent level of criminal activity despite seasonal shifts. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately three crimes reported each day, a figure that aligns with the built-up nature of the community. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for roughly every 102 residents over the course of November—a rate that highlights the density of reported incidents relative to the area's population of 8,833. While this monthly exposure is higher than the UK average, the stability in the rate compared to the previous month indicates that local policing and community initiatives may be maintaining a balance between crime prevention and incident reporting. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Oswaldtwistle, as a compact built-up area, experiences a higher concentration of crimes compared to the national average, though the month-on-month consistency suggests no major spikes or dips in activity.