Melbourne (South Derbyshire) Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Melbourne (South Derbyshire) in January 2025 reveals a distinctive balance of crime types that contrasts with national trends, shaped by the area’s small population and seasonal context. At 4.7 per 1,000 residents, the area’s overall crime rate is 33.8% below the UK average of 7.1, reflecting a generally safer environment compared to the broader population. The distribution of crime types further underscores this divergence: violent and sexual offences, while comprising 32% of all crimes, are 40% below the UK average, a disparity consistent with the area’s lower population density and potentially fewer opportunities for such incidents. Anti-social behaviour, however, constitutes 24% of crimes—12% above the UK average—suggesting a local challenge that may relate to the built-up area’s social infrastructure or the lack of alternative spaces for community engagement. This contrast is amplified by the relatively low rates of property crimes, such as burglary (8.0% of total crimes, 33% above UK average) and criminal damage (12% of total crimes, 18% above UK average), which, despite being above national benchmarks, remain numerically modest given the area’s size. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—likely contributed to the observed patterns, with vehicle crime and shoplifting rising to unprecedented levels in the area. These findings highlight the nuanced interplay between geographic and demographic factors in shaping local crime dynamics, even as the area maintains a crime rate significantly below national averages.

January 2025 marked a stark transformation in Melbourne (South Derbyshire)’s crime profile, with drugs, vehicle crime, and shoplifting each seeing 100% month-on-month increases. The emergence of drug-related incidents—rising from zero to one report—may be linked to post-holiday disruptions in local routines or transient population movements, though the area’s overall drug crime rate remains 23% below the UK average. Vehicle crime doubled to two incidents, a spike potentially tied to shorter daylight hours and reduced visibility during January’s colder weather, a pattern consistent with seasonal trends observed in similar rural and semi-rural areas. Shoplifting, which also rose from zero to one report, contrasts with the area’s 68% deficit compared to the UK average for this category, suggesting effective retail security measures or lower foot traffic in local stores. The crime mix revealed a 32% share of violent offences, lower than the UK average of 40%, balanced by 24% anti-social behaviour—12% above the UK average—highlighting a local challenge that may reflect community dynamics or environmental factors such as limited public spaces for social interaction.

Melbourne (South Derbyshire) saw a notable 56.5% increase in its crime rate from 3.0 to 4.7 per 1,000 residents in January 2025, reflecting a shift that, while significant, remains well below the UK average of 7.1. This rise, however, underscores the sensitivity of crime statistics in smaller populations: with just 5,345 residents, even a modest absolute increase translates to a measurable impact on community safety. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day, a figure that, while low, highlights the importance of consistent monitoring in built-up areas where population density can amplify the visibility of incidents. The monthly exposure metric—1 in 214 residents experiencing a crime—provides context for residents, illustrating that while the area is statistically safer than the national average, the concentrated nature of its population means localised shifts in crime patterns are more immediately felt. This statistic also aligns with broader trends in rural and semi-rural regions, where smaller communities often report lower overall crime rates but face sharper fluctuations due to fewer incidents to offset changes.