Ashton-in-Makerfield Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Ashton-in-Makerfield in September 2023 reveals a striking imbalance, with violent crimes accounting for two-thirds of all incidents. At 1.1 per 1,000 residents, the area's crime rate is 86.2% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, a figure that underscores its status as a relatively safe locality. The dominance of violence and sexual offences—13 cases, or 65% of the total—contrasts sharply with the UK average for this category, which stands at 2.7 per 1,000. This shift in the crime mix may reflect local factors, such as the area's smaller population and possibly lower levels of economic deprivation, which are often associated with higher property crime rates in larger cities. Seasonal context also plays a role: as September marks the start of the academic year, the influx of students and the transition to darker evenings may have contributed to the rise in violent incidents. Public order offences, while lower in absolute terms, still accounted for 15% of the total, suggesting ongoing challenges in managing community behaviour. The relatively low rates of burglary and other property crimes, which are 69% and 83% below UK averages respectively, further highlight the area's distinct profile. These patterns align with the characteristics of a built-up area within a larger town, where social dynamics and local infrastructure may influence crime trends differently than in more densely populated urban centres.

September 2023 saw a 160% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from five to thirteen incidents. This jump, coupled with a 100% rise in drugs-related crimes and criminal damage and arson, highlights a shift in the crime mix. Despite these increases, violent crime in the area remains 74% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. The decrease in burglary by 50%—from four to two cases—suggests a possible reduction in property-related crime, though the overall rate still lags far behind the UK average. For residents, the dominance of violent crimes over property crimes marks a notable divergence from typical patterns in larger urban centres, where property offences often dominate. The sharp rise in violence and sexual offences may warrant closer attention from local authorities, though the exact reasons for the increase remain unclear without further data.

Ashton-in-Makerfield's crime rate in September 2023 rose by 25.3% compared to the previous month, from 0.9 to 1.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though notable, remains well below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the month, a figure that, while low, reflects a slight uptick in reported incidents. When scaled to the population of 17,524, this translates to one reported crime for every 876 residents over the course of the month—a stark contrast to the UK's much higher exposure rates. The population-scaled perspective underscores the area's continued status as a relatively safe environment, even as the monthly rate shows a modest increase. Local residents may find the daily crime count a useful metric for contextualizing the area's safety within the broader picture of national crime statistics.