South Derbyshire Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in South Derbyshire during July 2023 reveals a significant emphasis on violent crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for nearly 38% of all recorded incidents. This contrasts with a relatively lower share of property-related crimes, which together make up less than 30% of the total. The overall crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents places the area 20.5% below the UK average of 8.3, a notable gap that suggests local factors may be influencing this trend. Given July's status as a peak summer month, with schools out and tourism at its height, the crime profile aligns with patterns often seen in areas with seasonal influxes of visitors and increased outdoor activity. Violence and sexual offences, which dominate the crime mix, may partly explain this, as higher foot traffic and social events can contribute to incidents of this nature. Anti-social behaviour, the second most common category, accounts for 20.9% of all crimes, a figure slightly below the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000. This could indicate that while local enforcement efforts are effective in curbing disruptive behaviour, the presence of transient populations during the summer months might still be a contributing factor. The relatively low rate of property crimes compared to the UK average is also noteworthy, with vehicle crime, shoplifting, and burglary all falling significantly below national benchmarks. This may reflect the area's mix of rural and urban environments, where property crimes are less concentrated in high-density areas that typically see higher rates of theft and burglary. However, the increase in criminal damage and arson, which rose by 54% compared to the previous month, introduces a new dynamic to the crime profile. This surge may be linked to the summer's outdoor events or the presence of more unoccupied properties during the holidays, creating opportunities for such offences. Overall, the crime profile of South Derbyshire in July 2023 illustrates a combination of local characteristics and seasonal influences, with violent crimes and anti-social behaviour dominating, while property-related incidents remain relatively subdued compared to the national average.

The month-on-month changes in July 2023 reveal sharp fluctuations in specific crime categories, with possession of weapons seeing a 200% increase from five to fifteen incidents. This dramatic rise could be linked to the summer's increased presence of transient populations or the influence of local festivals and events that may inadvertently create environments conducive to such offences. Burglary also rose by 109.1%, jumping from eleven to twenty-three cases, a trend that may be partly explained by the seasonal shift in property occupancy and the potential for unsecured homes during the summer holidays. Conversely, several categories saw significant declines, including bicycle theft, which fell by 33.3% to just two incidents, and public order offences, which decreased by 35.2% from ninety-one to fifty-nine cases. The latter's drop could be attributed to the summer's relaxed social norms and the dispersal of transient groups that often contribute to such disturbances. The crime mix in South Derbyshire remains distinct from the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 2.5 per 1,000, a 10% deficit compared to the national rate of 2.8 per 1,000. This suggests that local efforts in addressing violent crime may be having an impact, although the presence of a high proportion of such crimes still highlights the need for continued focus. Meanwhile, other theft, vehicle crime, and shoplifting all fall significantly below UK averages, with other theft at 0.4 per 1,000 (39% below the UK's 0.7), vehicle crime at 0.3 per 1,000 (38% below the UK's 0.5), and shoplifting at 0.3 per 1,000 (50% below the UK's 0.6). These figures may reflect the area's lower population density and the effectiveness of local policing strategies in deterring such crimes. However, the increase in criminal damage and arson, which is 9% above the UK average, introduces an element of concern that warrants further exploration. Residents may find the stability in the overall crime rate reassuring, but the fluctuations in specific categories underscore the importance of ongoing vigilance and targeted interventions in areas where crime is on the rise.

Comparing July 2023 to the previous month, South Derbyshire's crime rate remained stable at 6.6 per 1,000 residents, indicating no significant shift in overall criminal activity. However, the daily crime count for the month averaged approximately 25 incidents per day, a figure that, while not alarming, highlights the continuous nature of crime in the area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 151 residents, a monthly exposure rate that provides context on the frequency of incidents relative to the local population. This statistic, when considered alongside the area's population of 117,493, underscores that while the crime rate is relatively low compared to the UK average, the impact of each incident is still felt by a proportion of the community. The stability in the overall crime rate may be attributed to the balance between increases in certain categories and decreases in others, as seen in the month-on-month changes. For instance, the sharp rise in possession of weapons and burglary was offset by the decline in public order and bicycle theft, resulting in a net stable rate. This dynamic suggests that local factors, such as seasonal events and policing efforts, may be playing a role in maintaining the current level of crime. The population-scaled perspective is also important, as the 1-in-151 monthly exposure rate indicates that the average resident has a moderate likelihood of encountering a crime during the month. While this is not an immediate threat, it serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for community engagement and preventive measures. The comparison to the UK average further highlights South Derbyshire's position as a relatively safer area, with the overall crime rate being 20.5% lower than the national figure. However, this does not eliminate the need for vigilance, particularly in areas where specific crime types are rising, such as criminal damage and arson. The data also reveals that while the area is performing well in several categories, the fluctuations in others necessitate continued monitoring and adaptive strategies to ensure that the overall crime rate remains stable and continues to improve.