Dronfield Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

September 2023 marked a significant shift in Dronfield's crime profile, with the most pronounced change being the 100% increase in 'other crime' reports — a category that, while small in scale, represents a notable anomaly in the area's crime profile. This month-on-month swing, coupled with the doubling of weapon possession incidents, suggests a combination of factors influencing local crime patterns. The overall crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents places Dronfield 52.5% below the UK average, a position that reflects the area's generally low crime environment. However, this contrast is not uniform across categories: while violence and sexual offences remain 53% below the UK average, burglary stands out as 56% above the national rate, highlighting a distinct vulnerability in property crime. The top crime types — violence and sexual offences (33.3% of total), burglary (13.6%), and anti-social behaviour (13.6%) — illustrate a mix of personal safety concerns and property-related incidents. Seasonal factors likely play a role, as September brings the return to school and the end of summer, which may influence both community activity and crime patterns. The area's built-up nature within North East Derbyshire, combined with its relatively low population density compared to major urban centres, may contribute to the observed crime distribution, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections. The relatively low levels of shoplifting (82% below UK average) and vehicle crime (58% below UK average) suggest that traditional retail and transport hubs are not major drivers of crime in this area. These patterns align with Dronfield's character as a smaller built-up area, where community dynamics and local geography may shape crime trends differently than in larger cities or more densely populated regions.

The most dramatic month-on-month change in September 2023 was a 100% increase in 'other crime' reports, rising from 0 to 1 incident. This category, though small in absolute terms, represents a sharp shift that may reflect unclassified or emerging criminal activity patterns. Concurrently, possession of weapons also doubled from 1 to 2 incidents, a 100% increase that could signal heightened tensions or specific incidents requiring further scrutiny. Meanwhile, burglary saw a 57.1% increase, rising from 7 to 11 incidents, marking the most significant upward movement among property crimes. This contrasts with the 35.3% decrease in anti-social behaviour, which fell from 17 to 11 incidents — a shift that may reflect seasonal changes in community activity as schools reopened. The crime mix also shows notable UK comparisons: violence and sexual offences remain 53% below the UK average, while burglary is 56% above the national rate, underscoring the area's unique profile in property crime trends.

Dronfield's crime rate in September 2023 rose 14.0% from the previous month, climbing to 3.8 per 1,000 residents from 3.4 per 1,000. This increase, though modest, reflects shifting patterns in local crime dynamics. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 3 crimes per day over the month, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for residents. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 262 residents over the course of September — a monthly exposure rate that highlights the frequency of incidents in a localised timeframe. While the overall rate remains significantly below the UK average, the month-on-month rise suggests a potential seasonal influence, particularly as September brings back-to-school activity and the transition from summer to autumn. The population context reinforces that even small absolute changes in crime numbers can represent meaningful shifts in a community of 21,206 residents.