Knowle and Dorridge Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For an area of 19,557 residents, December 2023 saw 65 crimes reported, translating to a crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 people. This figure is 54.2% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, marking one of the lowest rates in the country for this built-up area. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (40% of total), followed by vehicle crime (13.9%) and other theft (10.8%). These patterns align with seasonal factors typical of December, when extended evening darkness and holiday-related disruptions may contribute to higher incidents of violent crime. The relatively low property crime rate compared to the UK average could reflect a combination of local policing strategies and the area’s compact, residential character, which may limit opportunities for burglary. Vehicle crime, while slightly above the UK average, remains a small proportion of total crimes, suggesting targeted efforts in this category have had limited impact. The seasonal context of Christmas shopping and reduced foot traffic in some areas may have influenced crime distribution. Overall, the data illustrates a crime profile shaped by both geographic factors and temporary seasonal pressures, with the area consistently outperforming national benchmarks in key categories.

December 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with violence and sexual offences rising by 44.4% compared to November, reaching 26 incidents. This increase may be linked to the holiday season’s social dynamics, including heightened alcohol consumption and gatherings in the area’s more densely populated parts. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson surged by 100%, jumping from 3 to 6 cases, a trend that could reflect seasonal vandalism during the festive period. In contrast, burglary and shoplifting both declined sharply: burglary dropped 75% (from 16 to 4) and shoplifting fell 70% (from 10 to 3), due to increased police patrols or retailers’ anti-theft measures during the Christmas rush. Violence and sexual offences remained 50% below the UK average for this category, while vehicle crime was 11% above the national rate, highlighting a mixed performance across crime types. For residents, the 70% reduction in shoplifting offers a tangible benefit, linked to stricter retail security protocols during peak shopping periods. These changes underscore the volatility of crime trends in December, where seasonal factors can amplify or suppress specific types of offences in ways that are not always immediately apparent.

The crime rate in December 2023 (3.3 per 1,000) represents a 20.8% decrease from November’s rate of 4.2 per 1,000, indicating a downward trend over the final month of the year. On a daily basis, this equates to approximately 2 crimes reported each day in Knowle and Dorridge, a figure that appears modest when considering the area’s population of nearly 20,000. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 301 residents, a statistic that provides context for the relative safety of the area compared to larger urban centres. This monthly exposure rate is particularly striking when viewed alongside the UK average, which would equate to one crime for every 140 residents in a similar-sized population. The lower incidence of property crimes, especially burglary and anti-social behaviour, suggests that local initiatives—such as community engagement or improved street lighting—may be contributing to the area’s better-than-average performance. While daily crime numbers remain a small proportion of the population, the consistency of these figures across months indicates a stable environment where residents are less likely to encounter crime than in many other parts of the country. These comparisons reinforce the idea that Knowle and Dorridge’s built-up area has a distinct crime profile, shaped by its size, density, and the effectiveness of local crime prevention measures.