Haverfordwest Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In Haverfordwest, the daily reality of crime is starkly evident when considering the 13.8 crimes reported per 1,000 residents in October 2023. This figure places the area 72.5% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, highlighting a significant divergence from national trends. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 49.4% of all reported incidents—152% above the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage followed, each contributing to a pattern that reflects both local dynamics and seasonal influences. October, with its shorter evenings and Halloween festivities, likely amplifies risks in public spaces. The disproportionate share of violent crime compared to the UK suggests a unique local context, possibly linked to Haverfordwest’s role as a regional hub with mixed residential and commercial zones. While property crimes such as shoplifting and burglary remain concerns, their rates are lower than the UK average for these categories. The seasonal context of October—clocks going back and reduced daylight—may contribute to heightened incidents of anti-social behaviour and public order offences. This snapshot underscores the need for residents to remain vigilant in shared spaces, particularly during darker evenings, while also acknowledging the broader socioeconomic factors that shape crime patterns in coastal communities.

October 2023 saw marked fluctuations in crime types, with other theft and robbery both doubling from previous months. Other theft, which had previously recorded three incidents, rose to nine—a 200% increase—while robbery, previously unreported, occurred once. These spikes may reflect seasonal vulnerabilities, such as increased indoor activity during darker evenings or Halloween-related disturbances. Conversely, anti-social behaviour decreased by 29.6% (27 to 19 incidents), possibly due to targeted enforcement efforts or natural seasonal variation. The breakdown of crime types reveals a stark contrast to the UK average: violence and sexual offences in Haverfordwest were 152% above the national rate, while shoplifting and burglary were each 90% above their respective UK averages. This imbalance suggests that local factors—such as the presence of high-footfall areas or transient populations—play a role in shaping these trends. For residents, the most immediately relevant statistic is the 6 crimes reported per day on average, a figure that underscores the need for community vigilance in daily routines. The data also highlights a 135% above-average rate for burglary, which may be linked to the area’s rural-urban interface, where properties are more exposed to opportunistic offenders.

Haverfordwest’s crime rate in October 2023 rose by 25.7% compared to the previous month’s rate of 10.9 per 1,000 residents, a shift that places the area’s current rate at 13.8 per 1,000. This increase, while significant, must be contextualised within the local population of 12,798 residents. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 6 crimes per day, a figure that, while not uncommon for a built-up area, reflects the cumulative impact of multiple crime types. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 73 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, while higher than the UK average, is a snapshot of the area’s unique dynamics. Comparing this to the UK’s overall crime rate of 8.0 per 1,000, Haverfordwest’s residents face a higher risk of encountering crime, particularly in categories like violence and sexual offences. This disparity may be attributed to the area’s geographic position as a coastal town with a mix of residential, commercial, and tourism-related activity, which could create environments conducive to certain types of crime. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that while the absolute number of crimes is relatively low compared to larger urban centres, the proportion of violent crime is high, suggesting that local factors—such as the density of public spaces or social interactions—play a critical role in shaping these outcomes.