Rothwell (Leeds) Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Rothwell's December 2023 crime profile reveals a striking balance between violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for nearly 37% of all reported incidents. This contrasts with the UK average, where such crimes make up 2.6 per 1,000 residents compared to Rothwell's 2.4 per 1,000. The area's crime mix suggests a combination of local factors: while violent crime remains a significant concern, the proportion of property crimes (58 out of 141 total) aligns with the seasonal rhythm of December, a time when retail centres see increased foot traffic and dark evenings heighten opportunities for theft. Anti-social behaviour, at 10.6% of all crimes, appears lower than the UK average of 0.9 per 1,000 (25% below), a pattern consistent with Rothwell's relatively stable residential character. However, the area's burglary rate (0.6 per 1,000) is 71% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000, highlighting vulnerabilities in property security that may be linked to the built-up nature of the area and the presence of commercial spaces. This balance of crime types reflects Rothwell's position within Leeds as a mixed-use locality, where urban density coexists with suburban characteristics, creating a unique crime profile that differs from both densely populated city centres and more isolated rural regions.

December 2023 saw notable shifts in Rothwell's crime mix, with bicycle theft and possession of weapons both doubling from 1 to 2 incidents—a 100% increase each—while other theft rose by 28.6% (7 to 9). These rises may be linked to seasonal factors: the Christmas shopping peak could have increased opportunities for theft, and the end-of-year party season might contribute to the rise in weapons possession. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 37.5% (16 to 10), a decline that could reflect the reduced presence of empty homes over the holidays, as families stayed together during the festive period. Public order offences also decreased by 31.3% (16 to 11), due to the same seasonal dynamics. The area's burglary rate remains 71% above the UK average, a figure that may be explained by the presence of retail spaces and the higher foot traffic associated with December. However, anti-social behaviour is 25% below the UK average, suggesting that Rothwell's community-focused environment and local policing efforts may be effectively mitigating such incidents. These fluctuations highlight how Rothwell's crime profile is shaped by both local characteristics and the seasonal calendar, with December's unique context influencing specific crime trends.

Rothwell's December 2023 crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents marks an 18.1% decrease from the previous month's rate of 8.0 per 1,000, a decline that may reflect the seasonal lull in activity as the year-end holidays progress. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 5 crimes per day in December, a figure that provides a concrete sense of the local risk profile for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 152 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Rothwell within the lower end of the UK spectrum for urban areas. When scaled to the population of 21,421, this rate underscores that the area's crime burden is significantly lighter than the national average, despite the presence of specific vulnerabilities like burglary. The comparison to the UK average also reveals interesting local patterns: while Rothwell's overall rate is 8.3% lower than the national figure, certain categories like burglary (71% above UK average) and shoplifting (22% above) indicate targeted risks that may stem from the area's commercial activity. These findings suggest that Rothwell's crime profile is neither uniformly high nor low, but rather a mix of localised challenges and broader urban trends that require nuanced understanding and targeted responses.