Southwell (Newark and Sherwood) Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Southwell (Newark and Sherwood) recorded a crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents in December 2024, placing it 39.4% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This stark contrast with national trends underscores a marked imbalance between property and violent crime, with property-related offences accounting for 64% of all incidents (16 cases) compared to 16% for violent crimes (4 cases). The most prevalent crime category was criminal damage and arson, which occurred at a rate of 1.0 per 1,000 residents — 89% higher than the UK average for this category. Other theft (0.9 per 1,000) and violence and sexual offences (0.7 per 1,000) followed, though the latter was 73% below the UK average. This pattern aligns with December’s seasonal context: the Christmas shopping peak, extended dark evenings, and the potential for empty homes during the holiday period likely contribute to the higher incidence of property crime. The relatively low violent crime rate may reflect the area’s character as a built-up area within a rural district, where community cohesion and lower population density could reduce opportunities for confrontational incidents. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson compared to the UK average suggests localized vulnerabilities, tied to targeted vandalism or arson during the festive season.

December 2024 saw significant fluctuations in crime types, with other theft increasing by 150% (from 2 to 5 cases) and burglary and vehicle crime each doubling (from 0 to 2 cases). This surge in property-related offences contrasts with a 33.3% decrease in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 6 to 4 cases. The category of criminal damage and arson stood out as 89% above the UK average, a figure that may concern local residents given the potential for holiday-related damage to public and private property. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour (0.5 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.2 per 1,000) were both below national averages, suggesting that community-focused policing or seasonal social norms may be mitigating these issues. For residents, the doubling of burglary and vehicle crime highlights the need for heightened vigilance around homes and vehicles during the holiday period, even as the overall crime rate remains well below the UK average.

The crime rate in December 2024 (4.3 per 1,000) represented a 46.8% increase from the previous month’s rate of 2.9 per 1,000. This monthly jump, while notable, still leaves Southwell’s rate 39.4% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 1 crime per day in December, a figure that, when scaled to the local population, translates to 1 reported crime for every 232 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate, though low, must be contextualized against the area’s population of 5,809 — a figure that underscores the relatively sparse distribution of crime in a built-up area within a rural district. The previous month’s rate was significantly lower, suggesting that December’s seasonal factors — such as the Christmas shopping rush, reduced visibility due to dark evenings, and the potential for increased property neglect during the holiday period — may have temporarily elevated crime levels. Despite this, the area’s crime profile remains markedly safer than the UK average, reflecting either effective local policing or inherent demographic characteristics that limit opportunities for crime.