Leicester Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Leicester’s crime profile in January 2024, accounting for nearly 40% of all reported crimes. This category, at 3.9 per 1,000 residents, was 50% above the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. The local authority’s overall crime rate of 10.2 per 1,000 residents placed it 37.8% above the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, highlighting a persistent gap in violent crime trends compared to national benchmarks. Public order offences (1.0 per 1,000) and criminal damage and arson (0.9 per 1,000) also featured prominently, both exceeding UK averages by 108% and 58% respectively. The post-holiday period in January, coupled with shorter daylight hours and reduced retail footfall, may have contributed to a shift in criminal activity patterns. While property crimes remained a significant category (1482 incidents), the dominance of violent crime suggests factors beyond seasonal trends, such as the area’s dense urban character and high population density, which can amplify interpersonal conflicts. The data illustrates a combination of local demographics and crime types, with Leicester’s urban core likely influencing the elevated rates of violence and public disorder.

January 2024 saw notable increases in shoplifting (274 incidents, +50.5% compared to 182 in December 2023) and burglary (199 incidents, +27.6% from 156). Vehicle crime also rose by 25.8% (229 incidents), potentially linked to the post-holiday period and increased vehicle usage during colder months. Conversely, possession of weapons fell by 19.1% (38 incidents from 47), and other theft decreased by 18.0% (301 from 367), suggesting some areas of crime reduction. The violent crime category, at 3.9 per 1,000 residents, was 50% above the UK average, with public order offences (1.0 per 1,000) showing an even starker 108% gap. Anti-social behaviour, however, was 19% below the UK average (0.8 per 1,000 vs 1.0 per 1,000), possibly reflecting targeted policing efforts in high-traffic areas. A resident might find the 274 shoplifting cases particularly concerning, as this represents a sharp rise from the previous month and could indicate challenges in retail security during the post-Christmas period.

Leicester’s January 2024 crime rate of 10.2 per 1,000 residents marked a 4.2% increase from the previous month’s 9.8 per 1,000, underscoring a rising trend in reported incidents. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 127 crimes per day in January, a figure that, while localised, highlights the frequency of criminal activity in a densely populated urban centre. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 98 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, when contextualised against Leicester’s population of 388,348, illustrates the scale of incidents affecting individual households. This rate is higher than the UK average, though the comparison section avoids direct UK-level figures due to data limitations. The rise in violent crime, coupled with the persistent gap in property crime rates compared to the UK, suggests that Leicester’s unique socio-economic dynamics—such as its role as a major urban hub with a mix of commercial and residential areas—may contribute to its distinct crime profile. The monthly exposure figure, while not directly comparable to national data, provides residents with a tangible sense of the frequency of crime within their community.