Holbury Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Holbury's crime rate in July 2024 stood at 5.1 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 39.3% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This figure underscores Holbury's position as a significantly safer built-up area within the New Forest, a region historically characterised by low crime rates. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 35% of all incidents (14 cases) and remained 37% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed, contributing 22.5% of total crimes (9 cases), though this rate (1.2 per 1,000) was still 17% below the national average. The seasonal context of July—peak summer with schools out, tourism at its height, and festivals—likely influenced crime patterns. For instance, the rise in anti-social behaviour may be attributed to increased social gatherings in Holbury's limited commercial spaces, while the decline in vehicle crime (-50%) could reflect reduced parking congestion during the summer. The area's low burglary rate (0.1 per 1,000) aligns with the rural nature of the New Forest, where property crimes are less common than in urban areas. This combination of factors—seasonal activity, geographic context, and the built-up area's characteristics—illustrates a community with a crime profile that diverges from typical urban trends.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift occurred in anti-social behaviour, which surged by 125% from 4 to 9 incidents. This spike, coupled with a 100% increase in shoplifting and other crime, contrasts sharply with declines in vehicle crime (-50%) and burglary (-50%). Violence and sexual offences remained the most common category, accounting for 35% of total crimes, but this rate (1.8 per 1,000) was 37% below the UK average. The rise in anti-social behaviour may be linked to the summer season, when festivals and increased foot traffic in Holbury's built-up area could create conditions for such incidents. 'other crime'—which includes unclassified offences—rose to 2 incidents, a 76% increase above the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000. This category's elevation highlights the need for further scrutiny, as it lacks detailed breakdowns. Meanwhile, public order offences fell by 40%, a decline consistent with heightened policing during the summer months.

Holbury's crime rate in July 2024 rose slightly to 5.1 per 1,000 residents from 5.0 per 1,000 in June, marking a 2.4% increase. This small upward trend contrasts with the area's overall position well below the UK average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 196 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the local population. Daily crime data shows an average of one crime per day in Holbury, a rate that remains significantly lower than many urban areas. The population-scaled perspective highlights that even with the slight increase, the area's crime profile remains markedly safer than the national average. This consistency with the New Forest's generally low crime environment is reinforced by the absence of major spikes in property or violent crime categories. The local context—characterised by a built-up area within a rural landscape—likely contributes to the sustained low levels, as the area's character differs from densely populated urban centres.