Westward Ho! Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Westward Ho! recorded a crime rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents in July 2023, an 86.7% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000. This stark contrast highlights the area’s unique characteristics, likely shaped by its coastal location and seasonal dynamics. With only six crimes reported across the month, the data reflects a pattern dominated by low-level, non-violent offences. Anti-social behaviour, public order incidents, and other unspecified crimes each accounted for 16.7% of the total, suggesting a focus on community-level disruptions rather than serious criminal activity. The seasonal context of July—peak tourism, festivals, and extended daylight hours—may have influenced these patterns. While the area’s small population and rural-urban hybrid status could contribute to lower crime rates, the specific distribution of offences hints at local factors. For instance, the absence of violent crimes above the UK average (which stands at 2.8 per 1,000) suggests that community policing efforts or the transient nature of visitors may mitigate risks. However, the presence of anti-social behaviour at 0.2 per 1,000 (86% below the UK average) indicates that certain incidents, such as noise disturbances or minor disputes, remain focal points. These findings align with the area’s character as a small, tourist-oriented community where crime prevention strategies may naturally lean toward addressing low-level, community-based issues rather than more complex criminal activity.

July 2023 saw a dramatic 75% decrease in violence and sexual offences, dropping from four incidents in June to just one. This sharp decline contrasts with the 100% increases in public order, other crime, and other theft categories, each of which rose from zero to one incident. While the overall crime rate remains exceptionally low, the shift in crime mix is notable: public order offences, which are 68% below the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), now dominate alongside other crime (43% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000). This suggests a potential reallocation of police resources or a temporary uptick in specific types of non-violent incidents. Residents may find the 100% increase in public order offences particularly relevant, as these often include disturbances in public spaces—common in areas with high tourist footfall during summer. The UK comparison data also reveals that while Westward Ho! is significantly safer in terms of violent crime, it faces unique challenges in managing low-level disorder. These findings raise questions about whether seasonal events or localised factors, such as the area’s proximity to natural attractions, are influencing the crime mix. However, the absence of any violent crime above the UK average underscores the effectiveness of existing community measures in preventing serious incidents.

The crime rate in July 2023 (1.1 per 1,000) marked a 33.1% decline from June’s rate of 1.7 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained downward trend. Daily crime statistics show that, on average, fewer than one crime occurred per day across the 31-day period, a figure that would be virtually imperceptible to most residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 887 residents—a monthly exposure rate that is exceptionally low compared to UK averages. This statistic, while purely local, provides a tangible sense of the area’s safety. With a population of 5,321, the low crime rate suggests that the community’s size and density may contribute to a more manageable crime environment. However, the 1-in-887 figure also highlights the rarity of incidents in this small area, which could be attributed to factors such as strong community ties or the transient nature of visitors. The contrast with the UK average—where 8.3 crimes occur per 1,000 residents—further reinforces the area’s outlier status. While this comparison does not account for local nuances, it does indicate that Westward Ho! operates within a distinct crime profile. The 33.1% month-on-month reduction, combined with the UK-wide context, underscores the area’s ability to maintain safety despite the pressures of peak summer tourism and seasonal events.