Staffordshire Moorlands Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

February 2026 marked a continued period of relative safety in Staffordshire Moorlands, with a crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 residents—25% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This figure, the lowest recorded for the district in recent years, reflects a combination of seasonal factors and long-term demographic characteristics. As a predominantly rural area with limited urban centres, the Moorlands naturally experiences lower rates of property crime compared to densely populated regions, though its violent crime rate remains high, comprising 44.2% of all recorded offences. The dominance of violence and sexual offences (207 incidents) is consistent with the district’s demographic profile, which includes a significant elderly population and a scattering of small villages with limited public safety infrastructure. The seasonal context of February—characterised by cold weather, reduced outdoor activity, and the pre-spring lull in social events—likely contributed to the subdued overall crime rate, though the sharp rise in public order offences suggests that localised tensions may be emerging. The district’s performance against UK averages highlights stark disparities: anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, and shoplifting rates all fall significantly below national levels, while violent crime remains high. This pattern aligns with the Moorlands’ rural character, where property-related crimes are less common but interpersonal conflicts, often linked to isolated communities, persist as a challenge. The absence of major retail hubs or commuter networks further explains the low incidence of vehicle crime and shoplifting, though the 66% gap between local and UK shoplifting rates warrants closer examination as economic pressures ease in the coming months.

February 2026 saw a notable 7.8% drop in the overall crime rate compared to January, driven by declines in burglary (-35.3%), drugs offences (-35%), and possession of weapons (-44.4%). This reduction contrasts with a 38.7% increase in public order offences, the most significant month-on-month rise, which may reflect heightened tensions during the winter months or shifts in local policing priorities. Violent crime remained the dominant category, accounting for 44.2% of all reported incidents, but its rate of 2.1 per 1,000 was 9% below the UK average—a gap that widened slightly compared to prior months. Anti-social behaviour also fell 34% below the UK average, a trend consistent with the area’s low population density and limited nightlife infrastructure. The sharp 66% gap between local shoplifting rates and the UK average suggests that rural retail environments in the Moorlands may be less vulnerable to theft than their urban counterparts, though this merits further analysis as seasonal shopping patterns emerge.

Staffordshire Moorlands recorded a crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 in February 2026, a 7.8% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.3 per 1,000. This decline aligns with broader seasonal patterns, as February typically sees reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull in social events. Locally, this translates to an average of 17 reported crimes per day, a figure that, while consistent with the area’s historical trends, remains well below the UK average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 207 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low risk profile of the district. When scaled to the population of 96,651, this suggests that the majority of residents experience no direct impact from crime during any given month. The decline in violent crime and property-related offences, particularly burglary and drugs offences, further supports the notion of a stabilising local environment. However, the increase in public order offences highlights areas requiring targeted community engagement.