Gomersal and Birkenshaw Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Gomersal and Birkenshaw’s crime rate in November 2023 stood at 7.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 1.3% below the UK average of 7.5. This small but consistent margin reflects the area’s relatively stable crime profile compared to national trends. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 30.5% of all reported incidents, followed by vehicle crime (13.6%) and shoplifting (11.9%). These figures align with the seasonal context of November, a month marked by darker evenings, the pre-Christmas shopping rush, and the Bonfire Night event, which may have contributed to heightened public order and vehicle-related incidents. Violence and sexual offences in the area remained 11% below the UK average, suggesting a lower-than-expected prevalence of such crimes in this built-up area within Kirklees. This could be linked to local community initiatives or the relatively compact nature of the neighbourhood, which may foster quicker police response times. However, vehicle crime in Gomersal and Birkenshaw was 100% above the UK average, a stark contrast to the lower rates of anti-social behaviour (43% below the UK average) and criminal damage and arson (32% below the UK average). This disparity may be attributed to the area’s road infrastructure, which includes commuter routes and local retail parks, increasing opportunities for vehicle-related offences. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted slightly during the month, with property crimes (55 incidents) accounting for 46.6% of all reported crimes, compared to 30.5% for violent crimes. This suggests that while personal safety remains a concern, property-related incidents are more frequent, due to the retail and industrial character of the area. As November progressed, the impact of seasonal factors such as reduced daylight and increased foot traffic during Black Friday sales may have influenced both shoplifting rates and public order disruptions. These patterns highlight the need for targeted policing strategies during key times of the year, while also acknowledging the area’s generally lower levels of violent crime relative to the national average.

November 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories compared to October. Public order offences surged by 116.7%, rising from six to thirteen incidents, a marked increase that may be linked to the heightened activity during Bonfire Night and the challenges of managing crowds in the area’s public spaces. Similarly, theft from the person and robbery each doubled from zero to one incident, a sharp rise that could reflect the impact of darker evenings and increased pedestrian traffic during the month. In contrast, other crime fell by 66.7% (from three to one incident), while criminal damage and arson decreased by 36.4% (from eleven to seven incidents), indicating a reduction in vandalism during the colder months or improved community engagement in preventing such crimes. Vehicle crime remained high, with a rate of 1.0 per 1,000 residents—100% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. This suggests that the area’s road networks, which include key commuter routes and local business zones, may be particularly vulnerable to vehicle-related offences such as theft from vehicles or motoring crimes. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour was 43% below the UK average, a trend that may be influenced by the area’s smaller, more tightly knit community structure, which could facilitate quicker resolution of disputes. Residents may find the 100% above UK average for vehicle crime particularly relevant, as it highlights a specific risk that local authorities might need to address through targeted patrols or CCTV deployment in high-risk areas.

The crime rate in Gomersal and Birkenshaw rose by 8.2% from October 2023 (6.8 per 1,000) to November 2023 (7.4 per 1,000), reflecting a noticeable uptick in reported incidents during the month. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of four crimes per day over November, a figure that, while not alarmingly high, underscores the ongoing need for vigilance. When scaled to the local population of 15,986 residents, this translates to one reported crime for every 135 residents over the course of the month—a monthly exposure rate that is neither significantly higher nor lower than typical for similar-sized built-up areas. This figure provides a useful benchmark for residents to contextualise the likelihood of encountering crime in their daily lives. The comparison to the UK average also reveals an intriguing contrast: while the area’s overall crime rate is marginally lower than the national figure, specific categories such as vehicle crime and shoplifting are higher, whereas anti-social behaviour and criminal damage are significantly lower. This suggests that the local environment, which includes a mix of residential, retail, and industrial zones, may influence the types of crimes that are most common. The population-scaled perspective further illustrates that, despite the 8.2% monthly increase, the area remains within a range that is typical for its demographic and geographic profile. Residents might consider this data in conjunction with local policing efforts and community initiatives aimed at addressing the specific crime trends observed in November.