Rothwell (Leeds) Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Rothwell's (Leeds) crime profile in February 2025, accounting for 41.9% of all reported crimes and driving the area's crime rate to 8.6 per 1,000 residents—28.4% above the UK average. This figure reflects a persistent challenge in a built-up area within Leeds, where the proximity to urban centres and local social dynamics may contribute to higher rates of interpersonal crime. The breakdown shows that violence and sexual offences (77 incidents) significantly outpace the UK average of 2.4 per 1,000 (a 53% gap), while public order offences (25 incidents) are 173% above the national average. These figures suggest a combination of factors, including the area's role as a mixed-use neighbourhood with retail and leisure facilities that may attract higher foot traffic during evenings. Seasonally, February's low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull may have shifted crime patterns toward indoor and interpersonal incidents. Property crimes, while lower in proportion (29.3% of total), still include notable spikes in burglary (12 incidents) and vehicle crime (16 incidents), both of which are above UK averages. The area's crime profile contrasts sharply with the UK-wide trend, where property crimes often dominate, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in Rothwell's specific context.

February 2025 saw dramatic month-on-month changes in Rothwell's crime profile. Shoplifting surged by 600% (from 2 to 14 incidents), likely linked to seasonal retail activity and the proximity to Leeds' shopping districts. Public order offences also rose sharply by 177.8% (9 to 25), a jump that may reflect increased social gatherings during late winter or challenges in managing local venues. Burglary increased by 140% (5 to 12), though this remains below the UK average for the category. Conversely, other theft fell by 58.3% (12 to 5), and other crime dropped by 60%, suggesting some short-term shifts in criminal focus. The dominance of violent crime—accounting for over 40% of total incidents—positions Rothwell as an outlier compared to the UK, where violence typically represents a smaller share of reported crime. This imbalance may be tied to the area's demographic composition, with higher concentrations of younger residents or transient populations. Anti-social behaviour (20 incidents) fell slightly below the UK average, a contrast to the sharp rises in other categories. These fluctuations highlight the need for ongoing monitoring of specific hotspots, such as public order incidents, which are 173% above the national average and could indicate pressures in local policing or community engagement strategies.

Rothwell's crime rate in February 2025 (8.6 per 1,000 residents) marks a 43.6% increase from the previous month's 6.0 per 1,000, underscoring a significant upward trend. This rise translates to roughly 7 crimes reported per day in the built-up area, a figure that, while not directly comparable to UK-wide daily averages, reflects a concentrated pattern of incidents in a relatively small population. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 116 residents—a monthly exposure rate that, while lower than some urban areas, is still higher than the UK average when scaled to Rothwell's population. The comparison to the previous month highlights the volatility of crime patterns, with violent and public order offences driving the increase. Rothwell's population of 21,421 means that even modest absolute numbers (such as 77 violent crimes) represent a substantial proportion of the local community. This perspective is critical for residents: while the daily crime count may seem manageable, the cumulative effect on safety perceptions and community cohesion is significant. The 28.4% gap above the UK average further emphasizes the need for localized strategies, as the area's crime profile diverges from national trends in both the dominance of violent crime and the sharp rise in public order incidents. These comparisons provide context for local authorities and residents to assess whether current policing efforts and community initiatives are adequately addressing the specific challenges in Rothwell.