Fence Houses Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

December 2023 saw Fence Houses record a crime rate of 7.5 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 4.2% above the UK average of 7.2. This figure reflects a mix of crime types, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 40% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (12.5%) and burglary (12.5%). The seasonal context of December—characterised by Christmas shopping, dark evenings, and the potential for empty homes during the holiday period—may have influenced these patterns. The dominance of violent crime, particularly the sharp rise in violence and sexual offences, contrasts with the relatively low levels of property-related crimes, which accounted for just 37.5% of the total. Burglary and criminal damage both reached 0.9 per 1,000, significantly above UK averages (0.3 and 0.6 per 1,000 respectively). This suggests that while property crime remains a concern, the area’s crime profile is increasingly shaped by interpersonal conflicts and public order issues. The seasonal peak in retail activity may have contributed to shoplifting (0.6 per 1,000), though this remains below the UK average. However, the dramatic 200% increase in 'other crime'—a category that is 400% above the UK average—raises questions about unreported or under-recorded activity. These patterns highlight the need for continued monitoring, particularly as the area’s crime mix appears to be shifting towards more violent and socially disruptive incidents.

December 2023 marked a dramatic shift in crime trends, with violence and sexual offences surging by 128.6% month-on-month, rising from seven to 16 incidents. This spike, which places the category 15% above the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), may partly reflect seasonal factors such as increased social gatherings and darker evenings. Concurrently, other crime surged by 200%, jumping from one to three incidents, a category that is 400% above the UK average (0.1 per 1,000). This sharp rise could indicate unreported or under-recorded activity. Meanwhile, public order offences plummeted by 90%, falling from 10 to 1, a drop that may be linked to reduced foot traffic during the festive season. Other theft and vehicle crime also declined, with the latter falling by 50% (from two to one incident). These decreases contrast sharply with the violent crime surge, suggesting a combination of seasonal dynamics and local conditions. Residents may find the 128.6% increase in violence particularly concerning, as it represents the largest single-month swing in the dataset.

Fence Houses' crime rate in December 2023 fell by 9.1% compared to November 2023, dropping from 8.3 to 7.5 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical of winter months, when holiday-related activity may reduce opportunities for certain crimes. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day in December, a figure that, while low, remains a local metric without a UK-wide counterpart. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for approximately every 133 residents, a rate that reflects the area’s population of 5,335. This monthly exposure figure contextualises the crime rate in terms of individual risk, showing that the likelihood of experiencing a crime is relatively low but not negligible. When viewed against the broader population, the 7.5 per 1,000 rate places Fence Houses slightly above the UK average, though the overall decrease from November suggests a possible stabilisation in local crime trends. The reduction in certain categories, such as public order offences (-90%) and vehicle crime (-50%), may partly explain this downward shift, though further analysis would be needed to confirm causal links.