Forest Town Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Forest Town during December 2023 reveals a distinct profile shaped by seasonal dynamics and local characteristics. With a crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents—31.9% below the UK average—the area's overall safety remains comparatively strong. However, the distribution of crime types highlights specific vulnerabilities. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 38.9% of all crimes, the highest proportion among any category. This dominance of violent crime may be consistent with the month's darker evenings and increased social gatherings, which can heighten opportunities for such incidents. Shoplifting, the second most common crime, occurred at a rate of 1.0 per 1,000 residents, 104% above the UK average. This anomaly likely reflects the surge in retail activity during the Christmas shopping period. Anti-social behaviour, the third most prevalent category, contributed 13.0% of all crimes, a figure 35% below the UK average. This contrast could indicate the town's relatively stable community environment, where public order issues are less frequent. The seasonal context of December—characterised by holiday shopping, extended evenings, and the absence of some residents—may have influenced patterns, but direct causal links. The balance between violent and property crimes also suggests a unique local dynamic, with property crimes (including shoplifting) making up 49.4% of the total, slightly below the 50.6% share typically seen in similar built-up areas. This slight deviation may reflect the town's character as a smaller, less densely populated urban centre within Mansfield, where property-related crimes are somewhat mitigated by community cohesion and limited high-footfall retail zones.

December 2023 saw a 100% increase in burglary, rising from zero to three incidents, a stark contrast to the previous month's absence of such crimes. This spike may partly reflect the holiday season, when homes are more likely to be unoccupied. Meanwhile, shoplifting remained the second most common crime, with 21 incidents reported—104% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. This anomaly suggests a potential link to Christmas shopping activity. Public order offences also rose by 37.5%, increasing from eight to 11 incidents, possibly tied to the party season and extended evening hours. Conversely, other theft and other crime categories fell sharply by 63.6% and 60% respectively, indicating a possible reduction in opportunistic crimes during the month. The balance of violent and property crimes also shifted, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 38.9% of all crimes, a proportion significantly higher than the UK average for this category.

Forest Town's crime rate in December 2023 stood at 4.9 per 1,000 residents, a 13.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader seasonal trend, as December typically sees reduced outdoor activity and fewer holiday-related events compared to November. On a daily basis, the town recorded approximately three crimes per day across its 31-day period, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for residents. When scaled to the local population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 206 residents, a rate that highlights the relatively low frequency of crime in this built-up area. This figure is particularly notable when compared to the UK average, though the comparison section avoids direct UK benchmarking for daily figures, as no national data exists for this metric. The population context further underscores that even with 108 total crimes, the per capita impact remains modest, reflecting the town's character as a smaller, tightly knit community with limited high-risk zones.