Holyhead Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 100 residents in Holyhead, 13.6 crimes were reported in December 2024, a rate 91.5% higher than the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This stark deviation from national trends underscores the area’s unique challenges, shaped by its role as a coastal gateway and its seasonal fluctuations. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 52.7% of all crimes, a figure that places the town 181% above the UK average for this category. This dominance of violent crime, despite the UK’s overall decline in such incidents, may be linked to the town’s reliance on tourism and the associated pressures of transient populations during the festive season. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage also contributed significantly, with the former 91% above the UK average. The seasonal context of December—dark evenings, empty homes over holidays, and the peak of Christmas shopping—likely amplifies risks in public spaces. While the UK average crime rate has been declining for years, Holyhead’s rate remains stubbornly elevated, a reflection of its specific socio-economic profile. The area’s built-up nature, coupled with its isolation on the Isle of Anglesey, may limit resources for community policing and crime prevention initiatives. This per-capita perspective reveals that residents face a 1-in-74 chance of experiencing a crime in any given month, a statistic that contextualises the rate beyond abstract figures. The breakdown also shows a marked contrast in crime types: while violent crime dominates, property crimes like burglary and shoplifting are relatively minor, with the latter’s 75% gap above the UK average tied to the town’s retail presence. These patterns suggest that local interventions—such as targeted patrols during peak shopping hours or community engagement with transient populations—could address the root causes of the area’s elevated violent crime rate.

December saw a 200% increase in burglary cases, rising from 2 to 6 incidents. This spike may partly explain the overall crime rate's 20.7% drop from November, as other categories declined sharply: other theft fell by 77.8%, public order offences by 60%, and anti-social behaviour by 35.3%. The dominance of violent crime—accounting for 52.7% of all incidents—places Holyhead 181% above the UK average for this category, a stark contrast to the UK’s 2.6 per 1,000. Conversely, other theft was 63% below the UK average, a rare anomaly that may reflect seasonal retail security measures. These shifts highlight a combination of local factors, such as the town’s proximity to the Irish Sea and transient holiday crowds, and the broader UK trend of declining anti-social behaviour. Residents might find the 77.8% drop in other theft particularly reassuring, suggesting that enhanced shop security during the festive season could be a contributing factor.

Holyhead's crime rate in December 2024 fell by 20.7% compared to November 2024, dropping from 17.1 to 13.6 per 1,000 residents. This decline, though modest, aligns with seasonal patterns observed in coastal towns where festive periods often see reduced public gatherings and heightened community vigilance. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 5 crimes per day, a figure that, while localised, reflects the area's built-up nature and reliance on tourism during peak seasons. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 74 residents, a statistic that contextualises risk in terms of personal probability rather than abstract rates. This monthly exposure rate is particularly relevant for families and individuals planning extended stays, as it underscores the need for situational awareness in shared spaces like the town’s historic quayside and retail hubs. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that, despite the elevated rate compared to the UK average, the absolute number of crimes remains manageable within the town’s relatively small population of 12,151.