Haverfordwest Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Haverfordwest's crime profile in May 2024, accounting for 41.5% of all reported crimes. At 19.4 per 1,000 residents, the area's crime rate is 131% above the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, highlighting a stark divergence from national trends. The surge in violent crime—103 incidents alone—far outpaces the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000 for this category, raising questions about local factors. While the area's coastal location typically sees seasonal fluctuations, the 10,200% month-on-month increase in violence is unprecedented, likely tied to extended evenings and increased outdoor socialising during May's bank holidays. Public order offences (41 incidents) also spike to 408% above the UK average, suggesting challenges in managing public spaces during peak social periods. The breakdown reveals a marked imbalance: violent crimes make up 84% of all incidents, compared to property crimes (16%), a shift from typical UK patterns where property crime often leads. This suggests a unique local dynamic, possibly influenced by the town's role as a regional hub for services and leisure, where interactions in public spaces may be more frequent. The seasonal context of longer daylight hours and warmer weather may contribute to the rise in alcohol-related incidents. The data underscores a need for targeted interventions in areas with high foot traffic and late-night activity.

May 2024 saw a 10,200% increase in violence and sexual offences, jumping from one incident in April to 103 in May—marking the most significant month-on-month rise in the dataset. This surge, coupled with a 177.8% increase in anti-social behaviour (9 to 25 incidents) and a 100% rise in criminal damage and arson (0 to 13), indicates a dramatic shift in the crime profile. Violent crimes alone now account for 84% of all incidents, far exceeding the UK average of 18.5% for this category. Public order offences, at 41 incidents, are 408% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000, suggesting heightened tensions in communal spaces. Vehicle crime is the only category below the UK average (57% lower), possibly reflecting the town's lower density of parked vehicles compared to urban centres. For residents, the 1-in-52 residents experiencing a crime this month provides a tangible measure of risk, particularly in areas with high concentrations of violent incidents. The absence of significant decreases in any category—despite an 18% drop in shoplifting (from 30 to 25)—highlights the overwhelming focus on violent crime, which may require targeted policing strategies.

Haverfordwest's crime rate in May 2024 (19.4 per 1,000) represents a staggering 2,384.6% increase from April's rate of 0.8 per 1,000, a jump that dwarfs typical seasonal variations. Daily, the area experiences approximately 8 crimes per day—a rate that, while low in absolute terms, becomes more concerning when viewed through the lens of the town's population of 12,798. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 52 residents, a figure that, when compared to the UK average, underscores the area's exceptional vulnerability. This monthly exposure is 23 times higher than the UK average of 1-in-1,245 residents for the same period. The contrast with the previous month is stark: while April's rate was comparable to many rural areas, May's figures align more with densely populated urban centres. Population context reveals that Haverfordwest's small size amplifies the impact of each incident—8 crimes per day in a town of under 13,000 residents equates to over 12% of the population being affected monthly. This scale of impact, combined with the 131% above-average crime rate, suggests a need for tailored approaches to community safety that account for the area's unique demographic and geographic characteristics.