Higham Ferrers Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences accounted for 23% of reported crimes in Higham Ferrers during October 2023, making them the dominant category in the local crime profile. This rate of 1.5 per 1,000 residents places the area 44% below the UK average for this category, a marked contrast to shoplifting, which occurred at 1.3 per 1,000 residents—124% above the national average. The area’s overall crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents is 20% below the UK average, reflecting a generally safer environment compared to the national context. Seasonal factors may have influenced patterns, with darker evenings and Halloween likely contributing to increased anti-social behaviour and public order incidents, though the latter category saw an 83% drop in October compared to the UK average. The town’s compact built-up area, with a population of 9,533, may explain the relatively low overall crime rate, though the sharp divergence in shoplifting figures suggests local retail dynamics or policing strategies could be at play. Property crimes, which make up 47.5% of total incidents, are slightly lower than the UK average, while violent crimes remain a persistent concern, albeit at a rate significantly below national levels. These figures illustrate a combination of local characteristics and broader regional trends, with October’s transition into darker evenings amplifying certain types of crime.

October 2023 saw a 133.3% increase in vehicle crime, rising from three to seven incidents, a surge that may be linked to seasonal changes in parking patterns or increased vehicle theft during darker evenings. Conversely, anti-social behaviour decreased by 38.1% compared to the previous month, suggesting a possible reduction in public disturbances during the month. The shoplifting rate, at 1.3 per 1,000 residents, was 124% above the UK average, highlighting a significant local anomaly that could reflect specific retail vulnerabilities or enforcement practices. Violence and sexual offences, while remaining the most common category, declined by 26.3% from September, a drop that may be attributed to heightened policing around Halloween or natural fluctuations in reported incidents. Drugs-related crime saw a 100% increase, with one incident reported in October compared to zero in September, a shift that could indicate emerging trends or changes in local drug activity. For residents, the daily crime count of two incidents per day provides a tangible metric to contextualise safety, though this figure remains well below the UK average when scaled to the area’s population.

Higham Ferrers’ crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents in October 2023 marked an 11.6% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 7.2, indicating a downward trend in overall crime. This reduction aligns with the monthly exposure figure, where one reported crime occurred for every 156 residents during the month—a rate that, while locally specific, provides a clear measure of risk for the community. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day, a figure that, when contextualised against the population of 9,533, underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. The area’s crime profile diverges from the UK average in several key categories: while violence and sexual offences remain 44% below the national rate, shoplifting is 124% above, a stark contrast that may reflect the town’s retail infrastructure or policing priorities. This disparity highlights the importance of localised analysis, as national averages can obscure significant variations between regions. The 1-in-156 monthly exposure rate, though modest, serves as a reminder that even in lower-crime areas, the impact of individual incidents can be felt by residents, particularly in smaller communities where crime is more visible.