Southwell Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Southwell (Newark and Sherwood) experienced a marked increase in crime during July 2023, with the area's overall crime rate rising to 5.0 per 1,000 residents—a figure that remains 39.8% below the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000. This shift in crime rate, however, contrasts with the broader UK context, where Southwell's performance in certain categories is better. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 24.1% of all reported crimes, a rate of 1.2 per 1,000, which is 57% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 17.2% of incidents at a rate of 0.9 per 1,000—37% below the national average. These figures suggest that the area's lower levels of violent and disorderly crime may be influenced by its character as a relatively quiet built-up area, where community cohesion and lower population density might contribute to fewer incidents of this nature. Seasonal factors also appear to play a role: July, a peak summer month with schools out and tourism in full swing, may have driven increases in certain categories, such as anti-social behaviour linked to festivals or public events. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson—jumping from one incident to five—raises questions about whether specific events or environmental factors in July contributed to this surge. The overall crime picture in Southwell during this period illustrates a combination of seasonal dynamics, local characteristics, and occasional spikes in specific categories, even as the area continues to perform better than the UK average in many respects.

July 2023 saw dramatic increases in specific crime categories, most criminal damage and arson, which jumped by 400% from one incident to five. This spike may partly explain the overall rise in the area's crime rate. Other theft also surged by 300%, highlighting a shift in the crime mix that could reflect seasonal patterns or changes in local activity. Meanwhile, the category of 'other crime' rose by 200%, suggesting a broader increase in non-specific incidents. Violent crime remained significantly below the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 1.2 per 1,000—57% lower than the national rate. However, the sharp rise in property-related crimes, including burglary and criminal damage, contrasts with this trend. Residents may find the 400% increase in criminal damage and arson particularly concerning, as it indicates a sudden escalation in a category typically associated with vandalism or arson during summer festivals and events.

Southwell's crime rate in July 2023 rose sharply compared to June, jumping from 2.2 to 5.0 per 1,000 residents—a 122.8% increase. This shift raises questions about what might have changed in the area over the month. While the daily crime count remained low at roughly one incident per day, the monthly exposure figure highlights that 1 in 200 residents experienced a reported crime during July. This is a critical statistic for residents assessing risk: over the course of the month, the likelihood of encountering crime was significantly lower than the UK average but higher than the previous month. The population-scaled perspective shows that, despite the increase, Southwell's rate remains 39.8% below the UK average, suggesting a broader context of lower overall crime in the area. However, the sharp month-on-month rise indicates a need for closer attention to factors that may have contributed to this shift, such as seasonal events or local changes in activity patterns.