Kempsey Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Kempsey's crime rate in May 2023 stood at 6.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 15% below the UK average of 8.0. The most striking outlier was burglary, which occurred at a rate of 0.6 per 1,000—nearly three times the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This anomaly may reflect the area's built-up character within the Malvern Hills, where historic properties and limited residential density could create opportunities for targeted theft. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, accounting for 40% of all incidents, a share that aligns with the area's small population and potential for concentrated social interactions. Anti-social behaviour followed at 20%, consistent with patterns seen in low-density urban areas where community cohesion may be more vulnerable to disruption. Seasonal factors likely played a role in shaping these trends: May's longer evenings and bank holidays may have encouraged more outdoor socialising, contributing to the sharp rise in violent offences. However, the overall crime rate remained relatively low compared to larger urban centres, suggesting that Kempsey's rural setting and community-oriented infrastructure may provide a natural buffer against more widespread criminal activity. The contrast between burglary's above-average rate and shoplifting's 18% deficit below the UK average highlights the complexity of local crime dynamics, with property crimes showing mixed results that defy simple categorisation.

Violence and sexual offences surged by 133.3%, rising from six to 14 incidents—a jump that may partly reflect the impact of longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising in May. Shoplifting and other theft both doubled from zero to two incidents, marking an unusual spike in property crimes typically associated with retail environments. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson fell by 40%, and drug-related offences dropped by 50%, suggesting possible shifts in community activity or enforcement priorities. Burglary, at 0.6 per 1,000, was 94% above the UK average, a stark contrast to shoplifting's 18% deficit. These divergent trends illustrate how Kempsey's crime profile differs from national patterns, with property crimes showing mixed results compared to the UK average. A resident might find the doubling of shoplifting incidents particularly noteworthy, as it indicates a sudden shift in local criminal activity.

Kempsey's crime rate in May 2023 rose 59.3% compared to April's 4.3 per 1,000, reaching 6.8 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though significant, remains 15% below the UK average of 8.0. Daily crime activity averaged one reported incident per day, a figure that may reflect the area's smaller population and lower density of high-risk environments. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 147 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Kempsey among the safer built-up areas in England. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while crime has risen, the absolute number of incidents (35) remains modest in a community of 5,148 people. This context suggests that localised factors, such as seasonal changes in social activity, may have a more pronounced effect on crime patterns than broader demographic trends.