Caldicot Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Caldicot's crime rate in February 2024 stood at 6.4 per 1,000 residents, 9.9% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects a continued trend of relatively low crime levels compared to the national context. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 28.6% of all crimes (18 incidents), followed by shoplifting (15.9%, 10 incidents) and anti-social behaviour (14.3%, 9 incidents). The seasonal context of February—characterised by low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—likely contributes to the overall reduction in crime, particularly in categories dependent on public interaction. However, the stark contrast between Caldicot's shoplifting rate (1.0 per 1,000) and the UK average (0.5 per 1,000) suggests that retail environments or policing strategies in the area may create unique risk profiles. The lower rate of violent crime compared to the UK average (2.5 per 1,000) may be attributed to Caldicot's character as a built-up area within Monmouthshire, where community cohesion and limited nightlife could reduce opportunities for such offences. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.9 per 1,000, is 14% below the UK average, reflecting effective local interventions or a lower density of social spaces that typically drive such incidents. These patterns illustrate a combination of geography, seasonality, and local factors that shape the area's crime profile.

February 2024 saw a 50% decrease in violence and sexual offences, the most common crime type, from 36 to 18 incidents. This sharp reduction is consistent with the winter lull in public activity and may reflect reduced opportunities for such crimes in a built-up area with limited nightlife. Conversely, criminal damage and arson surged by 100%, rising from 3 to 6 incidents. This increase is notable against the UK average, which is 0.5 per 1,000, suggesting Caldicot's rate of 0.6 per 1,000 is 11% above national levels. The 100% rise in other thefts, from 3 to 6 incidents, could indicate targeted property crimes during periods of reduced surveillance. Shoplifting, at 10 incidents (1.0 per 1,000), is 85% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000, highlighting a local vulnerability that may relate to retail presence or policing priorities. These shifts in crime mix suggest that while overall safety has improved, specific categories require targeted attention.

Caldicot's crime rate in February 2024 dropped by 23.2% compared to January, falling from 8.3 to 6.4 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical of winter months, when outdoor activity and tourism wane, reducing opportunities for certain crimes. Locally, the average daily crime count was 2 incidents per day, a figure that contextualises the pace of reported activity within the built-up area's population of 9,855. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 156 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is 9.9% below the UK average. This lower rate may reflect Caldicot's character as a smaller, more tightly knit community where social cohesion and local awareness can act as informal deterrents. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that the area's crime burden remains proportionally lighter than the UK average, despite the 100% increase in criminal damage and arson, which suggests specific local factors may have influenced that category. The drop in violence and sexual offences by 50% further supports the idea that seasonal lulls and reduced public gatherings contribute to safer conditions during this period.