Westward Ho! Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Westward Ho!’s crime rate in September 2023 stood at 1.9 per 1,000 residents, a figure that is 76.2% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This stark contrast with national trends reflects the area’s unique characteristics as a small built-up coastal community within Torridge, where low population density and a strong sense of community may contribute to its relative safety. The breakdown of crimes reveals a dominance of violent and sexual offences, which accounted for 60% of all incidents, compared to a UK average of 2.7 per 1,000 for the same category. Anti-social behaviour followed at 20%, significantly lower than the UK average of 1.3 per 1,000, while criminal damage and arson made up 10%, also below the national figure of 0.6 per 1,000. The data suggests that the area’s crime profile is shaped by its geographic and demographic context: a coastal town with a transient population due to tourism, but also a stable local community. The seasonal context of September—marking the start of the academic year and the shift from summer to autumn—may have influenced patterns, such as the surge in violent crimes. This could be linked to increased social interactions during freshers’ week or the return of students to the area. However, the overall low crime rate indicates that local factors, such as effective policing or community engagement, likely play a role in maintaining this safety. The absence of major property crimes, which are common in larger urban areas, further differentiates Westward Ho! from the national picture, where property offences often dominate. This data reinforces the area’s position as an outlier in the UK crime profile, where its small size and specific social dynamics contribute to a distinct crime profile.

September 2023 revealed stark shifts in crime patterns for Westward Ho!. Violence and sexual offences surged by 100%, rising from 3 to 6 incidents—a significant jump that outpaced the UK average, which saw such crimes at 2.7 per 1,000. This category alone contributed 60% of all reported crimes, highlighting its dominance in the local crime mix. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 50%, dropping from 4 to 2 incidents, a decline that placed the area 70% below the UK average for this category. Criminal damage and arson also saw a 100% increase, moving from 0 to 1 reported incident—a shift that may be linked to seasonal factors such as the transition from summer to autumn, when community events or increased property maintenance could influence such crimes. These changes underscore the volatility of specific crime types, even within an area that maintains an overall low crime rate. Residents might find the 60% share of violent crimes particularly noteworthy, as it contrasts with the national trend where property crimes often dominate.

Westward Ho! recorded a crime rate of 1.9 per 1,000 residents in September 2023, marking a 16.8% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 2.3 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the area’s historically low crime profile, which has consistently positioned it well below the UK average. On a daily basis, the 10 reported crimes over 30 days equate to roughly 0 crimes per day, illustrating the rarity of criminal incidents in this built-up area. When scaled to the local population of 5,321, the monthly exposure figure shows that one reported crime occurred for every 532 residents—a statistic that underscores the area’s relative safety. While this is a local metric only, it provides residents with a clear sense of the low probability of encountering crime. The contrast with the UK average, which stands at 8.0 per 1,000, further highlights the effectiveness of local policing and community factors in maintaining security. These figures suggest that the area’s unique characteristics, such as its coastal setting and smaller population, may contribute to its distinct crime dynamics compared to larger urban centres.