Eckington (North East Derbyshire) Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2024, Eckington (North East Derbyshire) maintained a crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents, 27% below the UK average of 7.4. This lower-than-average rate underscores the area's relatively safer profile compared to the national context, though specific crime trends reveal areas of concern. Property crimes, which accounted for 65% of all reported incidents (26 out of 40), dominated the landscape, with violent crimes making up the remaining 27.5% (11 incidents). The most significant category by share was criminal damage and arson, which constituted 37.5% of all crimes. While the overall rate is encouraging, the seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours—likely contributed to the observed patterns. The lower prevalence of outdoor crimes during this time may explain the reduced rates of theft from the person and vehicle crime compared to busier months. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson, despite the seasonal context, suggests a need for localized investigation into potential triggers, such as the area's infrastructure or community-specific factors. The balance between property and violent crimes also indicates that while property-related offences are more common, the area's violent crime rate remains lower than the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 1.5 per 1,000 (42% below the UK average). This divergence may reflect Eckington's character as a smaller, more tightly knit community compared to larger urban centres, where such offences are typically more prevalent. The data also highlights the importance of considering seasonal variations when interpreting crime statistics, as the reduced foot traffic and retail activity in January may have inadvertently created opportunities for certain types of crime while limiting others. Overall, the combination of a lower-than-average crime rate and specific spikes in property-related offences illustrates an area with generally low crime levels but pockets of vulnerability that require targeted attention.

The most alarming trend in January 2024 was the 1,400% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from one incident to 15. This category's rate of 2.0 per 1,000 residents is 251% above the UK average, suggesting a local vulnerability that may be linked to the area's built environment or seasonal factors. Concurrently, vehicle crime doubled to four incidents, and other theft also doubled, both reaching levels that, while not extreme, indicate potential underreported issues in property security. Other crime categories showed declines, with other crime falling by 80% and public order offences dropping by 50%. These reductions, particularly in public order, may reflect the post-holiday period's reduced social activity. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson warrants attention, as it could signal targeted vandalism or arson linked to local events or environmental factors. Residents are advised to remain vigilant in areas with older infrastructure or public spaces that may be susceptible to such incidents.

Eckington's crime rate in January 2024 remained stable compared to December 2023, with no change in the overall rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no significant short-term shifts in criminal activity, though the nature of crimes reported varied. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall rate. When scaled to the population of 7,444, this translates to one reported crime for every 186 residents over the course of the month. While this monthly exposure is lower than the UK average, the distribution of crime types reveals distinct local patterns. For example, the rate of criminal damage and arson in Eckington is 251% higher than the UK average, indicating a specific local risk that may relate to the area's infrastructure or community dynamics. This contrast with other categories, such as public order offences, which are 79% below the UK average, highlights the need for targeted local analysis rather than broad comparisons.