Castle Donington Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

December 2023 marked a continuation of Castle Donington’s historically low crime profile, with a total crime rate of 4.0 per 1,000 residents—44.4% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000. This figure, the lowest recorded in the built-up area’s recent data history, reflects a combination of seasonal factors and local characteristics. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 44.1% of all reported crimes, followed by burglary (23.5%) and other theft (5.9%). The seasonal context of December—characterised by long evenings, Christmas shopping activity, and the potential for empty homes during holiday periods—likely contributed to the crime mix observed. While violent crime remains the most frequently reported category, its rate (1.8 per 1,000) is 31% below the UK average for this category, suggesting localised measures or community dynamics may be dampening incidents. The area’s relatively low property crime rate compared to the UK average (1.0 per 1,000 for burglary, 186% above the UK average) highlights a paradox: while burglary is high in this area, other property crimes like vehicle crime and theft remain significantly below national levels. This discrepancy may reflect the built-up area’s unique layout, with fewer high-traffic retail zones or public spaces that typically drive such crimes. The overall trend aligns with Castle Donington’s position as a smaller, more tightly knit community where informal social controls may mitigate certain types of crime, even as others persist.

December 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with three categories experiencing 100% increases compared to November. Public order offences rose from one to two incidents, criminal damage and arson doubled from zero to one, and burglary surged from zero to eight cases—a stark contrast to the previous month. These increases may be linked to seasonal pressures, such as the heightened visibility of anti-social behaviour during the festive period or the vulnerability of empty homes to burglary during holidays. Conversely, anti-social behaviour dropped by 60%, from five to two incidents, potentially reflecting a reduction in public gatherings or increased community vigilance during the month. The breakdown of crime types also reveals a marked divergence from UK averages: while violence and sexual offences are 31% below the national rate, burglary is 186% above. This anomaly may be explained by the area’s characteristics—Castle Donington, as a built-up area within North West Leicestershire, may have a higher concentration of residential properties or fewer preventative measures targeting burglary compared to larger urban centres. For residents, the most immediately relevant finding is the sharp rise in burglary, which could prompt increased use of security measures such as alarms or CCTV during the festive season.

The December 2023 crime rate of 4.0 per 1,000 represents a 41.5% increase compared to the previous month’s rate of 2.8 per 1,000, yet it remains significantly below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure of one reported crime for roughly every 249 residents. This rate, while showing a month-on-month rise, is still lower than the UK average when scaled to the area’s population of 8,464. The comparison underscores that Castle Donington, despite its increase, continues to perform better than the national benchmark in most categories. For instance, violence and sexual offences are 31% below the UK average, and other theft is 66% below. However, the sharp rise in burglary—a category where the area is 186% above the UK average—highlights a specific vulnerability that may warrant targeted interventions. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the absolute number of crimes remains low, the proportional increase in certain categories suggests a need for community engagement or resource allocation to address emerging trends. Residents should note that the overall crime environment remains safer than the national average, but vigilance in areas with higher-than-average rates, such as burglary, is advisable.