Kempsey Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

July 2023 saw Kempsey's crime rate remain significantly below the UK average, but specific crime types showed troubling trends. The overall rate of 4.9 crimes per 1,000 residents placed the area 41.0% below the UK's 8.3 per 1,000, a position consistent with Kempsey's character as a small, low-density built-up area within Malvern Hills. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 28% of total crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (24%) and public order offences (16%). These patterns align with Kempsey's seasonal rhythms: summer tourism, festivals, and the absence of school terms likely contributed to heightened social activity in public spaces. While property crimes remained relatively low (8 incidents), the breakdown reveals a shift in crime mix — violent crimes now constitute 28% of all incidents, compared to 16% for property crimes. This shift may reflect increased foot traffic in town centres during peak tourist season. Violence and sexual offences fell sharply by 58.8% from 17 to 7 incidents, possibly due to targeted policing efforts or natural seasonal fluctuations. However, the rise in anti-social behaviour — doubling from 0 to 6 incidents — suggests a need for community engagement strategies to address disruptive activity in shared spaces.

July 2023 marked a concerning uptick in specific crime categories, with burglary and robbery both increasing by 100% compared to June. Burglary rose from 1 to 2 incidents, while robbery — a rare occurrence in Kempsey — moved from 0 to 1. Anti-social behaviour also doubled to 6 incidents, a stark contrast to its absence in the previous month. These increases may be linked to summer-specific factors: the absence of students, the influx of tourists, and extended evening hours during festivals. Conversely, other theft and violence and sexual offences both declined. Other theft fell by 66.7% (from 3 to 1), possibly due to improved local security measures or fewer opportunities during the summer. Violence and sexual offences dropped by 58.8% (from 17 to 7), though this may reflect natural seasonal variability rather than targeted interventions. Residents should remain vigilant, particularly in areas with high foot traffic and during evening events. Public order offences, while below the UK average, rose 29% to 4 incidents — a trend consistent with the area's mix of tourism and local community events. The 41% gap between Kempsey's rate and the UK average remains striking, highlighting the area's relative safety despite these spikes in specific categories.

Kempsey's July 2023 crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents represents a 3.8% decrease from June's 5.1 per 1,000, reflecting a slight overall trend toward stability. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 1 crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that may feel more tangible to residents than aggregate statistics. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for roughly every 206 residents — a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area's low crime density compared to larger urban centres. This 1-in-206 ratio is particularly meaningful when contextualised against Kempsey's population of 5,148: it means the average resident faces a far lower risk of direct victimisation than those in areas with higher crime rates. However, the monthly exposure figure should not obscure the spikes in specific crime types, such as the doubling of anti-social behaviour incidents. When compared to the UK average, Kempsey's performance is mixed: while violence and sexual offences remain 50% below the national rate, public order offences are 29% above. This contrast highlights the combination of Kempsey's small-town character and the pressures of seasonal tourism. The area's population-scaled perspective — fewer than 5 crimes per 1,000 residents — reinforces its status as one of the safer built-up areas in the UK, even as targeted issues like anti-social behaviour demand attention.