Morecambe Crime Rate April 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 31,604 residents, April 2023 saw 454 crimes reported in Morecambe, equating to 14.4 crimes per 1,000 people. This rate is 92% higher than the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000, highlighting a stark contrast with national trends. The most prevalent crime types were anti-social behaviour (33.7% of total crimes) and violence and sexual offences (31.3%), both significantly above UK averages. Anti-social behaviour alone was 307% higher than the UK average, while violence and sexual offences were 73% above. Seasonal factors may contribute to these patterns, as April marks the start of increased outdoor activity and Easter-related events, which could drive incidents in public spaces. Property crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime were below the UK average, with burglary at 33% below and vehicle crime at 33% below. This divergence may reflect Morecambe’s coastal location, where residential areas are less densely packed and vehicle theft opportunities are limited compared to urban centres. The high rate of anti-social behaviour, however, suggests challenges in managing community spaces during peak seasonal activity. These figures underscore the need for targeted interventions in areas prone to public disorder, while the lower property crime rates indicate potential strengths in local security measures or demographic characteristics.

April 2023 saw sharp increases in public order offences (+131.3%), rising from 16 to 37 incidents. This surge may partly explain the overall crime rate’s 15.5% increase compared to March 2023, when the rate stood at 12.4 per 1,000. Public order crimes, which include disorderly behaviour and rowdy conduct, were 87% above the UK average, suggesting a disproportionate impact in Morecambe’s public spaces. Conversely, drug-related crimes fell by 77.8%, dropping from 9 to 2 incidents, a decline that could reflect seasonal shifts in substance use or enhanced policing efforts. Burglary also decreased by 72.2%, from 18 to 5, indicating improved home security awareness or reduced opportunities in residential areas. The most notable anomaly was the 100% increase in possession of weapons, with one incident reported in April compared to none in March. Residents might find the 88% above UK average for shoplifting (27 incidents) concerning, as this could indicate vulnerabilities in retail security. Meanwhile, vehicle crime remained 33% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may be linked to Morecambe’s relatively low vehicle density or effective local policing strategies.

April 2023’s crime rate of 14.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 15.5% increase from March’s 12.4 per 1,000, reflecting a growing challenge in maintaining public safety. On a daily basis, Morecambe experienced approximately 15 crimes per day over the month, a figure that, while not unusual for a built-up coastal area, underscores the scale of local policing demands. Monthly exposure data reveals that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 70 residents in April, a statistic that translates to a resident having a 1-in-70 chance of being directly affected by crime during the month. When contextualised against Morecambe’s population of 31,604, this rate highlights the need for sustained community engagement and resource allocation. While some crime types—such as burglary and vehicle crime—remain below the UK average, the stark overperformance in anti-social behaviour and violence suggests a unique local dynamic. This could be attributed to Morecambe’s character as a tourist destination with seasonal fluctuations in population, where transient visitors may contribute to public order challenges. The comparison with the UK average also reveals that Morecambe’s crime profile is distinctly skewed towards interpersonal and public space offences, unlike the more balanced distribution seen in larger urban centres.