Melbourne (South Derbyshire) Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile in Melbourne (South Derbyshire) during January 2024 reveals a strikingly low overall crime rate of 2.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 71.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This built-up area within South Derbyshire, which likely serves as a commuter hub or small urban centre, exhibits a crime mix dominated by property-related incidents. Of the 11 total crimes recorded, property crimes (5) and violent crimes (2) accounted for the majority, though the breakdown shows a more nuanced distribution. Violence and sexual offences, burglary, and anti-social behaviour each contributed 18.2% of total crimes, suggesting a balance between personal safety concerns and property security. Seasonal factors in January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—may partly explain the low volume of outdoor crimes and the absence of major spikes in shoplifting or public order offences. The area’s crime mix appears to reflect a combination of limited commercial activity and a stable residential population, with no significant spikes in violent crime despite the cold weather. This contrasts with larger urban centres where seasonal fluctuations often drive sharper changes in crime patterns. The low crime rate is consistent with the area’s likely character as a smaller, low-density built-up area where community cohesion and limited economic activity contribute to reduced opportunities for crime.

January 2024 saw notable shifts in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime increasing by 100% (from 0 to 1 incident) and burglary and anti-social behaviour each doubling compared to December. These rises occurred alongside a 66.7% drop in other crime (from 3 to 1) and a similar decline in violence and sexual offences (from 6 to 2). The crime mix shifted slightly, with property-related incidents maintaining dominance but violent crime falling to a lower share of total crimes. Violence and sexual offences in Melbourne were 85% below the UK average (0.4 per 1,000 vs. 2.6 per 1,000), while burglary was 11% above the UK average (0.4 per 1,000 vs. 0.4 per 1,000). This anomaly suggests either a temporary spike in local property crime or a broader trend in specific categories. Residents may find the 100% increase in vehicle crime particularly relevant, as it indicates a new vulnerability in a category that had previously been absent. The overall decline in violent crime, despite the cold weather, is also worth noting, as it may reflect effective policing or community efforts in maintaining public safety.

The crime rate in January 2024 (2.1 per 1,000) marked a 15.2% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 2.4 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained period of low crime in Melbourne (South Derbyshire). On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 0 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that underscores the rarity of incidents in this built-up area. When scaled to the local population of 5,345 residents, this translates to one reported crime for every 486 residents over the course of the month—a rate that is exceptionally low compared to national averages. The UK average crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 highlights the stark contrast, with Melbourne’s rate being 71.6% below that benchmark. This disparity is particularly evident in categories like violence and sexual offences, which were 85% below the UK average, and anti-social behaviour, which was 60% below. However, the 11% increase in burglary compared to the UK average suggests a need for targeted attention in this category. The low frequency of crimes, combined with the area’s likely small size and stable demographics, means that residents face significantly lower risks than those in larger urban centres, where crime rates are typically higher due to greater population density and economic activity.