Penwortham Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Penwortham’s December 2023 crime profile, accounting for 45.2% of all reported incidents—a rate of 1.8 per 1,000 residents, 31% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This category’s prominence may be partly explained by the area’s characteristics as a built-up area within South Ribble, where population density and social interactions can influence crime patterns. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 21.4% of total crimes at a rate of 0.8 per 1,000, 14% below the UK average, while shoplifting, at 0.3 per 1,000, represented 7.1% of all crimes, 39% below the national rate. The overall crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 in Penwortham was 45.8% lower than the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, a disparity that may reflect broader regional differences in policing, community engagement, or socioeconomic factors. December’s seasonal context—marked by Christmas shopping, dark evenings, and the potential for empty homes during holidays—likely contributed to the crime mix, with violence and sexual offences influenced by increased social gatherings and alcohol-related incidents. While property crimes such as burglary and other theft were lower than the UK average, the rise in anti-social behaviour and violence underscores the need for targeted interventions in public spaces during the festive period.

December 2023 saw a 22.6% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 31 to 38 cases, marking the most significant category shift of the month. This rise, though modest, contrasts with a 50% increase in anti-social behaviour, which jumped from 12 to 18 incidents, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as dark evenings and holiday gatherings. Meanwhile, shoplifting declined by 25%, from 8 to 6 cases, possibly reflecting reduced retail activity during the Christmas period. Bicycle theft surged by 100%, with one reported incident—though this remains well below the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. Other theft also fell sharply by 50%, from 10 to 5 cases, a trend that may align with decreased foot traffic in commercial areas during the holiday season. These shifts highlight the combination of seasonal patterns and local crime dynamics, with public order offences also dropping by 25% to 3 cases.

Penwortham's December 2023 crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents marked a 2.6% increase from the previous month’s 3.8 per 1,000.8% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000. Over the 31 days of December, this translated to an average of 3 crimes per day, a figure that, while low, reflects the area’s generally safer profile compared to national trends. Monthly exposure calculations indicate that over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 258 residents—a rate that underscores the relatively low incidence of crime in Penwortham compared to the UK as a whole. This statistic, when contextualised against the local population of 21,671, suggests that most residents are unlikely to experience crime directly, though the slight month-on-month rise may warrant attention to local factors such as seasonal activity or holiday-related disruptions.