Pembroke Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences emerged as the dominant category in Pembroke's December 2023 crime profile, accounting for 44% of all reported incidents. This category's rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents, while 7% above the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), highlights a localised concentration of violent crime despite the overall lower crime rate in the area. The prominence of this category may be attributed to the built-up nature of Pembroke, where social interactions are more frequent and concentrated, potentially increasing opportunities for such incidents. In contrast, property-related crimes such as burglary and anti-social behaviour remained below the UK average, with burglary at 0.3 per 1,000 (14% below the UK rate) and anti-social behaviour at 0.4 per 1,000 (57% below the UK rate). This divergence suggests that while the area's compact layout may facilitate violent crime, it also appears to limit opportunities for property crimes, due to the presence of community surveillance or stronger social cohesion. Seasonal factors played a significant role in shaping the crime picture, with the festive period contributing to a 5.7% monthly decline in overall crime rates. This aligns with patterns observed in other small built-up areas, where reduced public activity and increased community cohesion during the holiday season may deter certain types of crime. However, the surge in criminal damage and arson (125% increase from November) and shoplifting (50% increase) indicates that other seasonal dynamics, such as the presence of holiday decorations and increased retail activity, can drive specific types of offences. These findings underscore the combination of local characteristics and seasonal influences in shaping crime trends, with Pembroke's unique profile requiring tailored insights to fully understand its crime profile.

December 2023 witnessed a 125% increase in criminal damage and arson cases, rising from four to nine incidents. This surge, while significant, is consistent with seasonal patterns observed in small towns during the festive period, where property-related offences may rise due to increased holiday decorations and the presence of empty homes. Shoplifting also rose by 50%, with six incidents reported, potentially linked to the heightened retail activity during the Christmas shopping season. In contrast, drug-related crimes fell by 60%, reflecting a notable reduction in this category that may be attributed to seasonal changes in social activity. Public order offences decreased by 57.1%, a decline that aligns with the reduced foot traffic in local areas during the holiday period. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of crime in Pembroke, where seasonal factors appear to influence the balance between property and violent crime. The 44% share of violence and sexual offences in the total crime count underscores the need for targeted community engagement strategies during this time of year. The rate of violence and sexual offences in Pembroke (2.8 per 1,000) is 7% above the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), suggesting a localised concentration of this category despite the overall lower crime rate. This discrepancy may reflect the area's compact nature, where incidents are more concentrated within a smaller geographic footprint.

Pembroke's crime rate in December 2023 fell to 6.3 per 1,000 residents, a 5.7% decrease from the previous month's 6.7 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader seasonal pattern seen in similar small built-up areas, where crime rates often dip during the festive period due to reduced public activity and increased community cohesion. On a daily basis, Pembroke recorded roughly two crimes per day in December, a figure that contextualises the local impact of crime in a way that avoids overemphasising isolated incidents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 158 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average when scaled to the same population size. This statistic provides a tangible benchmark for residents, illustrating that the likelihood of being directly affected by crime remains relatively low compared to national trends. The population context further reinforces that Pembroke's crime profile, while not immune to seasonal fluctuations, maintains a consistent pattern of being below the UK average in both overall rate and specific categories like burglary and anti-social behaviour. The combination of reduced public foot traffic during the holiday period and the area's compact built-up nature likely contributes to the observed seasonal dip, with fewer opportunities for crimes such as theft from the person or vehicle-related offences to occur. This dynamic highlights how the physical and social characteristics of a small town can shape crime patterns in ways distinct from larger urban centres.