Billingham Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Billingham in August 2023 reveals a stark imbalance between property-related and violent crimes, with anti-social behaviour emerging as the dominant category. At 13.2 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area's rate is 63% above the UK average of 8.1, a disparity that reflects both local characteristics and seasonal influences. Anti-social behaviour accounted for 35.1% of all reported crimes, followed by violence and sexual offences (23.1%) and criminal damage and arson (11.1%). These figures suggest a community grappling with persistent disorder, potentially exacerbated by August's role as a peak holiday month, when increased foot traffic and temporary population shifts may amplify tensions in public spaces. The UK average for anti-social behaviour is 1.4 per 1,000, yet Billingham's rate of 4.6 per 1,000 is 219% higher—a gap that may be linked to the area's industrial heritage and the presence of multiple retail hubs, which can become focal points for disruptive activity. Violence and sexual offences, while lower than anti-social behaviour, remain 17% above the UK average, a figure that could be influenced by the area's demographics and the social dynamics of its built-up environment. The prominence of criminal damage and arson (1.5 per 1,000) compared to the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 suggests a need for targeted interventions in areas prone to vandalism, tied to the region's economic conditions and the transient nature of certain populations. This crime mix highlights a community where property-related crimes, particularly those involving anti-social behaviour, dominate the landscape, requiring a nuanced approach that addresses both immediate public safety concerns and underlying socioeconomic factors.

The most striking month-on-month change was the 163.3% surge in anti-social behaviour, rising from 60 to 158 incidents. This category alone accounted for 35.1% of all crimes, far exceeding the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000. Concurrently, burglary increased by 47.1%, with 25 reported cases compared to 17 in July—a trend consistent with August's role as a peak holiday month, when empty homes may be more vulnerable. In contrast, bicycle theft fell by 50% (from 6 to 3), and shoplifting dropped by 38.1% (from 21 to 13), suggesting seasonal shifts in criminal activity. Anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences together made up over 58% of all reported crimes, a balance that diverges sharply from the UK profile, where such categories typically account for a smaller share of total incidents.

Billingham's crime rate in August 2023 rose to 13.2 per 1,000 residents, a 12.8% increase from July's 11.7 per 1,000. This places the area significantly above the UK average, which remains at 8.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, 15 crimes were reported each day in August, reflecting a persistent level of activity that may challenge local policing resources. When scaled to the population of 34,045, this translates to one reported crime for every 76 residents over the course of the month—a figure that underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the community size. The most pronounced shifts occurred in anti-social behaviour, which surged by 163.3% compared to July, while shoplifting and bicycle theft both declined. These patterns suggest a seasonal dynamic influenced by August's status as a peak holiday month, potentially increasing pressure on community spaces and altering patterns of public interaction.