Hoo St Werburgh Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in Hoo St Werburgh during February 2025, accounting for 56.6% of all reported incidents. At 30 cases, this category alone outpaced all other crime types combined, highlighting its role as the principal driver of local crime statistics. The area's overall crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents placed it 26.9% below the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000, a gap consistent with the built-up nature of the area and its relative isolation from major urban centres. Anti-social behaviour (9 cases) and criminal damage and arson (5 cases) formed the next most significant contributors, though both remained below the UK averages for their respective categories. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with limited outdoor activity—may partly explain the relatively low levels of property crime, which collectively accounted for only 19% of all incidents. This contrast with the UK-wide trend, where property crimes typically constitute a larger share of the total, underscores the influence of local geography and demographics on crime patterns. The area's lower exposure to vehicle crime and public order offences further reinforces its distinct position within the national crime profile, though the 19% above-average rate for violence and sexual offences suggests a need for continued monitoring of this category. The winter lull in outdoor activity appears to have contributed to the reduced incidence of theft and burglary, which together accounted for just 3.8% of all crimes, well below UK averages. These patterns illustrate how seasonal rhythms and local characteristics interact to shape crime profiles in smaller built-up areas.

February 2025 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with criminal damage and arson surging by 150% (from 2 to 5 incidents) and public order offences doubling (from 1 to 2). These increases contrast sharply with the 18.9% decrease in violence and sexual offences, which dropped from 37 to 30 incidents. This decline in violent crime may partly explain the area's continued performance below the UK average for that category, despite a 19% gap. Meanwhile, vehicle crime and public order offences remained well below UK rates, with the latter showing a 55% deficit. The 80% drop in 'other crime' from 5 to 1 incidents highlights the volatility of less-defined categories, though such fluctuations are common in smaller built-up areas. For residents, the 56.6% share of violent crimes in the total count underscores the need for targeted local initiatives, even as the area benefits from consistently lower rates in property-related offences.

Hoo St Werburgh's crime rate in February 2025 (4.9 per 1,000) reflects an 8.6% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.4 per 1,000. This decline aligns with typical seasonal patterns in built-up areas, where winter months often see reduced outdoor activity and lower foot traffic in public spaces. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day over the 28-day period, a figure that contextualises the local exposure to crime without overemphasising isolated incidents. When scaled to the population of 10,836, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 204 residents, a ratio that highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. This population-scaled perspective provides a clearer sense of risk for residents, showing that the majority of the population remains unaffected by crime on a monthly basis. The contrast between Hoo St Werburgh's rates and UK averages further underscores the area's unique position within the national crime profile, particularly in categories such as vehicle crime and public order offences, where local rates are significantly below national benchmarks.