Linthwaite and Slaithwaite Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Public order offences stood out in April 2024 as a category significantly above the UK average, with 0.8 per 1,000 residents compared to the national figure of 0.5 per 1,000. This built-up area within Kirklees reported a total crime rate of 6.7 per 1,000, placing it 13.0% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 40.6% of total incidents (28 cases), followed by public order offences (11.6%) and anti-social behaviour (10.1%). The seasonal context of April, marked by Easter and the transition to spring, likely influenced patterns of outdoor activity and community gatherings, which may have contributed to increased public order incidents. While the overall rate remains lower than the UK average, the area’s crime profile reflects a mix of challenges, with violence and sexual offences slightly exceeding the national rate (2.7 vs 2.6 per 1,000) and anti-social behaviour falling 43% below the UK average. The relatively low burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) and shoplifting rate (0.2 per 1,000) — 70% below the UK average — suggest that the area’s character, possibly shaped by a compact residential and retail environment, may deter certain types of property crime. These findings highlight the need to balance localised efforts to address public order issues with the broader context of the area’s generally lower crime levels compared to the UK as a whole.

April 2024 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories. Possession of weapons surged by 100% (from 0 to 1 incident), marking a new entry in this category for the month. Shoplifting also doubled from 1 to 2 cases, while theft from the person increased from 0 to 3, a 100% rise. These spikes, though small in absolute terms, indicate potential shifts in local dynamics, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as increased foot traffic during Easter. Conversely, other theft cases dropped by 20% (from 5 to 4), and violence and sexual offences fell by 6.7% (from 30 to 28), suggesting some success in targeted interventions or natural fluctuations in crime patterns. The crime mix showed a notable emphasis on violent crimes, which made up 40.6% of all incidents — a higher proportion than the UK average for this category. Public order offences, at 51% above the national rate, stood out as a particular concern, potentially reflecting the area’s compact nature and the challenges of managing community interactions in a small built-up area. Residents may find the 100% increase in possession of weapons particularly noteworthy, as it signals an unusual trend that could warrant local scrutiny.

The crime rate for April 2024 (6.7 per 1,000) represents a 9.4% increase from the previous month’s rate of 6.1 per 1,000, indicating a slight upward trend in local crime levels. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day over the 30-day period, a figure that provides context for the frequency of incidents in the community. Monthly, the exposure rate of 1 reported crime for every 149 residents underscores the relatively low incidence of crime compared to the UK average, despite the notable spikes in certain categories. With a population of 10,263, the area’s crime profile reflects a balance between its compact size and the broader socio-economic factors influencing crime in Kirklees. While the overall rate remains below the national benchmark, the 9.4% month-on-month increase suggests a need for continued monitoring, particularly in light of the public order and violence trends. The population-scaled perspective highlights that, while the absolute number of crimes is manageable, the proportional increase in specific categories — such as possession of weapons and public order offences — could signal emerging challenges that require targeted responses. This data also reinforces the importance of understanding local context, as the area’s unique characteristics may contribute to both its lower overall crime rate and the spikes in certain types of incidents.