Westward Ho! Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Westward Ho! in October 2023 reveals a distinct balance between public order issues and low levels of violent and property crime. With a total of 15 crimes recorded, the area’s crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents is 65.0% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, reflecting a safer environment. Anti-social behaviour dominated the crime mix, accounting for 46.7% of all incidents (7 cases), followed by criminal damage and arson (20.0%) and violence and sexual offences (13.3%). This distribution suggests a focus on community-level disruptions rather than more severe crimes. The low rate of violent crime—0.4 per 1,000 residents—contrasts sharply with the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, indicating that Westward Ho! experiences far fewer incidents of personal violence. Property crime, while minimal, shows a unique pattern: burglary rose from zero to two cases, placing the area 18% above the UK average for this category. This could be attributed to the area’s coastal character, where seasonal transitions and increased tourism might influence local dynamics. The seasonal context of October—darker evenings, Halloween, and the end of the summer tourist season—likely plays a role in the increase in anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. However, the overall safety of the area, coupled with its low population density, suggests that community cohesion and environmental factors may contribute to the suppression of more serious crimes. These patterns highlight the interplay between local geography, seasonal rhythms, and the effectiveness of community-based policing or informal social controls in maintaining low crime rates.

October 2023 saw dramatic shifts in crime patterns for Westward Ho! Anti-social behaviour, the most common crime type, rose by 250% from 2 to 7 incidents, reflecting a sharp increase in disruptive activity. Criminal damage and arson also surged by 200%, with cases rising from 1 to 3, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as Halloween or increased property maintenance during colder weather. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences dropped by 66.7%, from 6 to 2 incidents, a contrast to the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. This category’s decline may be attributed to local community initiatives or reduced public gatherings. Burglary, though still low at 2 incidents (0.4 per 1,000), rose by 100% from zero to two cases, placing the area 18% above the UK average for this category. These fluctuations highlight the area’s unique profile, where property crime remains relatively rare but sporadic spikes occur, while violent crime remains consistently below national levels. Residents might find the 65% gap between Westward Ho!’s overall rate and the UK average particularly noteworthy.

Westward Ho! recorded a crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents in October 2023, marking a 50.0% increase from the previous month’s rate of 1.9. This rise, though modest, highlights a shift in local patterns. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately 0 crimes per day over the 31-day period, underscoring the rarity of incidents. When scaled to the population of 5,321, this equates to one reported crime for every 355 residents over the course of the month. While this monthly exposure is significantly lower than the UK average, the increase from September to October suggests a potential seasonal influence. The area’s coastal location and seasonal rhythms—such as Halloween and darker evenings—may contribute to fluctuations, though no definitive causal link is established. The comparison also reveals that certain crime types, like anti-social behaviour, have shifted sharply upward, while others, such as violence and sexual offences, have dropped. These dynamics reflect a combination of local conditions and broader national trends, requiring further analysis to fully understand their implications.