Rothwell Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2023, Rothwell’s crime profile revealed a striking imbalance between violent and property crimes, with the former accounting for 50% of all reported incidents. This dominance of violent offences—18 cases compared to six property crimes—marked a departure from the area’s usual pattern, where property crime typically holds a larger share. The overall crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents placed Rothwell 51.4% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, a gap that reflects the area’s generally low crime environment. Violence and sexual offences were the most prevalent category, with a rate of 1.8 per 1,000—31% below the UK average. This may be influenced by Rothwell’s character as a small built-up area with limited nightlife infrastructure, where violent incidents are more likely to occur in concentrated spaces such as public transport hubs or local retail areas. Seasonal factors also played a role: the Christmas shopping peak and extended dark evenings may have contributed to a higher incidence of violent crimes. Conversely, property crime rates were unusually low, with vehicle crime (0.4 per 1,000) and other theft (0.2 per 1,000) both significantly below UK averages. This could indicate effective local policing or a lower density of high-risk assets like unsecured vehicles. The data also showed an unusual spike in drug-related incidents, which rose by 200% month-on-month and exceeded the UK average by 50%. This anomaly may be linked to transient populations or increased drug-related activity during the holiday season, though further analysis would be needed to confirm this. Overall, Rothwell’s crime picture in December 2023 illustrates a combination of local demographics, seasonal rhythms, and the broader UK context, with violent crime emerging as a defining feature of the month.

December 2023 saw a stark shift in Rothwell’s crime mix, with violent crimes (50% of total incidents) outpacing property crimes (16.7%). This dominance of violent offences is 31% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences, suggesting local factors may temper broader trends. Month-on-month, violent crime fell by 41.9%—a notable drop that could reflect seasonal factors like reduced public gatherings during the holiday period. However, drug-related incidents surged by 200%, rising from one to three cases, a figure that exceeds the UK average by 50%. This increase, though small in absolute terms, may signal emerging local pressures. Anti-social behaviour also dropped by 75%, from 12 to three incidents, due to holiday-related displacement of usual offenders. The contrast between these trends—declining violence and rising drug offences—highlights the complexity of local crime patterns.

Rothwell’s December 2023 crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents marks a 41.0% decline from the previous month’s rate of 6.0 per 1,000. This reduction aligns with the typical seasonal dip in crime observed in smaller built-up areas during winter, though the drop is sharper than the UK average for similar periods. On a daily basis, Rothwell recorded an average of one crime per day in December, a figure that, while low, reflects the area’s overall safety profile. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 282 residents—a ratio that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. When scaled to the local population of 10,164, this translates to a manageable burden on community resources. However, the stark contrast between December’s crime mix and the prior month’s highlights the volatility of specific categories, such as the 75% drop in anti-social behaviour, which may be linked to holiday-related social dynamics or temporary displacement of usual offenders.