Melton Mowbray Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Melton Mowbray's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 7.6 per 1,000 residents, placing the built-up area 11.8% above the UK average of 6.8. This marks a notable departure from the previous month, though the seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—may have influenced patterns. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 40.8% of all incidents, followed by shoplifting at 25.1%. These figures contrast sharply with the UK averages, where violence and sexual offences are 2.5 per 1,000 and shoplifting is 0.6 per 1,000. The local spike in shoplifting, 233% above the UK average, suggests a specific dynamic at play in Melton Mowbray's retail environment. While January typically sees a decline in outdoor crimes due to colder weather, the area’s crime profile this month reflects a combination of seasonal factors and local conditions. The prominence of violence and sexual offences, despite the post-holiday lull, may be linked to the town’s social mix, with its mix of residential and commercial zones contributing to higher rates of interpersonal crime. The relatively low levels of vehicle crime and burglary, both well below UK averages, align with Melton Mowbray’s character as a smaller, more tightly-knit community compared to larger urban centres. These patterns underscore the need to consider both geographical and demographic factors when interpreting crime trends.

Melton Mowbray’s crime rate surged by 20% month-on-month, driven by sharp increases in violence and sexual offences (+36.5%) and shoplifting (+55.9%). Other crime saw an extraordinary 500% rise, from one to six incidents, though this category remains small in scale. The local rate for violence and sexual offences at 3.1 per 1,000 is 24% above the UK average, while shoplifting’s 1.9 per 1,000 is 233% above the national figure. This divergence from UK norms highlights the area’s unique dynamics, with its retail hubs and social spaces potentially contributing to these spikes. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 16.7% to 15 incidents, and other theft dropped by 46.7%, suggesting some localised efforts may be having an impact. For residents, the most immediate concern is the rise in shoplifting, which could indicate targeted activity in high-traffic retail areas. The town’s relatively low rates of burglary and vehicle crime—64% and 73% below UK averages, respectively—may reflect the compact nature of the built-up area, where surveillance and community awareness could deter such crimes.

Melton Mowbray’s crime rate in January 2026 rose to 7.6 per 1,000, up from 6.3 in December 2025—a 20% increase. This places the area at a level where roughly one crime occurs for every 131 residents over the course of the month, a figure that may feel more frequent to locals compared to the previous month. Daily crime rates averaged seven incidents per day, a statistic that, while not directly comparable to UK-wide figures, provides a tangible sense of the pace of incidents in the area. The contrast with the UK average is stark: Melton Mowbray’s overall rate is 11.8% higher, with specific categories like violence and sexual offences and shoplifting far exceeding national levels. However, some categories, such as anti-social behaviour (46% below UK average) and vehicle crime (73% below), suggest that not all local crime trends align with the national picture. This divergence may reflect the area’s compact nature, where community policing and social cohesion can mitigate certain types of crime. For residents, the most concerning shift is the rapid rise in shoplifting, which has more than doubled in absolute terms compared to December. These figures underscore the need for targeted interventions in retail environments, while the lower rates of burglary and vehicle crime highlight the potential benefits of the area’s smaller scale and higher visibility.