Hoo St Werburgh Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a community of 10,836 residents, 53 reported crimes in August 2023 equate to one crime for every 204 people over the course of the month. This rate of 4.9 crimes per 1,000 residents places Hoo St Werburgh 39.5% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. The most common crime type was anti-social behaviour, accounting for 35.9% of all incidents — significantly higher than the UK average for this category. Violence and sexual offences followed closely, making up 30.2% of the total, though this rate was 43% below the national average. The seasonal context of August as a peak holiday month may contribute to patterns observed, with increased tourism potentially influencing anti-social behaviour and burglary risks linked to empty homes. However, the overall crime rate remains lower than the UK average, suggesting effective local policing or community factors that mitigate criminal activity. The balance of crime types shows a stronger emphasis on public order issues rather than property crimes, which contrasts with some urban areas where property-related offences dominate. This profile aligns with Hoo St Werburgh's character as a built-up area within Medway, where community engagement and local initiatives may play a role in maintaining lower crime levels despite seasonal fluctuations.

August 2023 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories. Vehicle crime surged by 300% compared to the previous month, rising from one incident to four — a change that may reflect increased traffic movement during holiday periods or temporary vehicle storage in the area. Conversely, burglary fell sharply by 80%, dropping from five to one incident, potentially linked to heightened community vigilance or fewer empty properties during the summer. Other theft also declined sharply, with a reduction of 83.3% from six to one case, though this category remains well below the UK average. The most striking UK comparison lies in anti-social behaviour, which occurs at 1.8 per 1,000 residents — 25% above the national average of 1.4 per 1,000. This suggests local factors, such as community dynamics or event attendance, may amplify such incidents. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences in Hoo St Werburgh are 43% below the UK average, a statistic that could reflect effective policing strategies or community support networks. These variations highlight the combination of local conditions and national trends, with some categories showing resilience while others face specific challenges.

The crime rate in Hoo St Werburgh dropped by 37.6% from 7.8 per 1,000 in July to 4.9 per 1,000 in August, marking a significant improvement in local safety metrics. On a daily basis, this translates to approximately two crimes reported each day — a figure that, while non-zero, remains manageable for a community of this size. Over the course of the month, the average resident faced a 1-in-204 chance of being directly affected by a reported crime, a statistic that contextualises the monthly exposure in human terms. This rate is particularly noteworthy when compared to the UK average, where the equivalent figure would be roughly 1-in-125 residents. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Hoo St Werburgh's crime profile is not only lower in absolute terms but also proportionally less impactful for its residents. For instance, the 4.9 per 1,000 rate means that for every 1,000 people, fewer than five crimes occur — a stark contrast to areas with rates exceeding 8 per 1,000. These comparisons underscore the effectiveness of local crime prevention efforts, though they also highlight the need for continued vigilance, particularly in categories like anti-social behaviour where the area still exceeds the UK average.