Melton Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Melton's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 5.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 19.1% below the UK average of 6.8. This marked deviation from the national trend highlights the area's unique crime profile. Violence and sexual offences dominated with 126 incidents, accounting for 42.4% of all crimes, significantly higher than the UK average for this category. However, shoplifting emerged as an unexpected outlier, with a 45.9% surge from December to January. This sharp increase in property crime contrasts with the UK average for shoplifting, which is 75% lower in Melton. The seasonal context of January—post-holiday, shorter days, and reduced retail footfall—may contribute to this anomaly. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences, both below the UK average, suggest that community-focused policing efforts may be effective in certain areas. The overall crime rate, while lower than the UK average, shows a 9.6% increase from December, indicating a shift in patterns that deserves closer attention. Melton's crime picture reflects a balance between persistent challenges in violent crime and unexpected fluctuations in property-related offences, shaped by both local factors and broader seasonal trends.

Shoplifting saw a striking 45.9% increase in January 2026, jumping from 37 to 54 incidents. This sharp rise outpaces other categories and contrasts with the UK average for shoplifting, which is 75% lower in Melton. Meanwhile, vehicle crime fell by 45.0%, dropping from 20 to 11, a decline that aligns with the UK-wide trend of 46% below the national average. The most violent category, violence and sexual offences, rose by 32.6% to 126 cases, significantly exceeding the UK average for this category. This shift in the crime mix—from property crimes to violent offences—suggests changing dynamics in public safety. For residents, the 45.9% spike in shoplifting may indicate a need for increased vigilance in retail areas, particularly given the post-holiday context of January.

Melton's crime rate in January 2026 rose by 9.6% compared to December 2025, moving from 5.0 to 5.5 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend contrasts with the overall 19.1% below the UK average, highlighting local factors influencing crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly 10 crimes per day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 182 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides context for residents, showing that while crime remains lower than the national average, it is not entirely absent from daily life. The population-scaled perspective reveals that crime in Melton is distributed across a relatively small community, meaning individual experiences may be more pronounced than in larger urban areas. The shift from December to January also reflects seasonal dynamics, with post-holiday periods potentially affecting retail and public spaces differently than other times of the year.