Holyhead Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Holyhead's crime profile in May 2023 reveals a striking imbalance between violent and property crimes, with violent offences dominating the landscape. The area recorded 11.3 crimes per 1,000 residents, placing it 41.3% above the UK average of 8.0. Violence and sexual offences (38.7% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (26.3%) formed the core of the crime mix, a pattern consistent with the town's role as a coastal hub with a mix of tourism, nightlife, and residential communities. This dominance of violent and disorderly crimes contrasts sharply with the UK average, where property crimes typically outpace violent offences. The seasonal context of May—marked by longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—likely contributes to the elevated rates of anti-social behaviour and violence, as seen in the 38.7% share of violent crimes compared to the UK's 2.8 per 1,000. While property crimes (32 total) accounted for a smaller portion of the total, the breakdown shows a marked departure from the UK pattern, where property crimes typically constitute a larger share. This suggests that the unique social dynamics of Holyhead, including its proximity to major transport routes and seasonal influx of visitors, may be driving the disproportionate focus on violent and disorderly crimes. The data also highlights a 58% gap between Holyhead's violent crime rate (4.4 per 1,000) and the UK average (2.8 per 1,000), a discrepancy that aligns with the town's history of managing high volumes of transient populations and the associated challenges of maintaining public order in a compact built-up area.

May 2023 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories, with shoplifting surging by 350% (from 2 to 9 incidents) and robbery doubling from 0 to 2 cases. These jumps, though statistically significant, remain within the broader context of Holyhead's elevated crime mix. The 350% increase in shoplifting may reflect the impact of Easter-related retail activity spilling into May, combined with the town's role as a transport hub attracting transient visitors. Conversely, theft from the person fell by 50% (from 2 to 1), a decrease that could be attributed to heightened awareness among residents and visitors during the May bank holiday period. Anti-social behaviour and violence continued to outpace UK averages by 126% and 58% respectively, with the latter category's 4.4 per 1,000 rate being particularly striking. This suggests that the town's small, densely populated built-up area may amplify the visibility and impact of such offences. Meanwhile, burglary remained below the UK average by 35%, a statistic that aligns with the area's limited commercial density compared to larger urban centres. The 21% gap between Holyhead's public order offences (0.8 per 1,000) and the UK average (0.7 per 1,000) further illustrates the localised nature of these challenges, which may be exacerbated by the town's proximity to recreational areas and the associated increase in public drinking during the longer evenings of spring.

Holyhead's crime rate in May 2023 (11.3 per 1,000) represents a 4.5% increase from the previous month's rate of 10.8, reflecting a gradual upward trend. This rise translates to an average of 4 crimes reported per day in the built-up area, a figure that, while modest on a daily basis, accumulates to significant exposure over the course of a month. The monthly exposure statistic—1 reported crime for every 89 residents—provides a tangible measure of the risk faced by Holyhead's population of 12,151. This ratio underscores the importance of community policing and targeted interventions in an area where crime density is higher than the UK average. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the disparity between Holyhead and the UK as a whole, with the town's violent crime rate (4.4 per 1,000) being almost double the national average for this category. This comparison is particularly instructive for residents, as it illustrates that while the absolute number of crimes may not seem overwhelming on a daily basis, the concentrated nature of these incidents in a relatively small population base results in a higher per-capita risk. The 4.5% month-on-month increase, though seemingly small, is significant in the context of the town's historical crime trends and serves as a reminder of the need for sustained efforts in crime prevention, particularly in managing the seasonal fluctuations that characterise the area's crime profile.