Westward Ho! Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Westward Ho!'s crime rate in April 2024 stood at 3.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 53.2% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This marked a stark contrast to the national profile, where violent crimes and property offences dominate. Locally, violence and sexual offences accounted for 36.8% of all crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (26.3%) and public order issues (10.5%). The seasonal context of April—characterised by Easter holidays, spring weather, and increased outdoor activity—may partly explain the distribution of crime types. While violent crime rates remain significantly below the UK average (49% lower), the area's relatively low population density and coastal character likely contribute to this disparity. The small number of crimes reported (19 total) suggests a community where crime is not a daily concern, though the concentration of certain offences requires attention. The breakdown shows no significant property crime spikes, with violent offences dominating the local crime picture. This contrasts with many UK urban centres where property crime often outpaces violent crime. The area's proximity to natural landscapes and limited commercial density may reduce opportunities for theft or burglary, aligning with the data showing burglary rates 38% below the UK average. However, the seasonal surge in public activity during April could explain the rise in anti-social behaviour and public order offences, which require targeted community engagement.

April 2024 saw alarming surges in specific crime categories, with anti-social behaviour jumping 400% compared to March, rising from 1 to 5 incidents. Public order offences also doubled, increasing from 0 to 2, while shoplifting emerged as a new category with a 100% rise from 0 to 1 incident. These increases occurred against a backdrop of overall crime remaining significantly below the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 1.3 per 1,000 (49% below the UK rate of 2.6). The spike in anti-social behaviour—now the second most common crime type—raises concerns for local residents, particularly as the Easter holiday period often brings transient visitors to the area. While property crimes remained low (5 total, or 26.3% of all crimes), the balance between violent and property offences shifted slightly, with violent crimes now accounting for 36.8% of the total. This shift may reflect the transient nature of the population during the Easter break. For residents, the most immediately relevant data point is the 400% increase in anti-social behaviour, which suggests a need for heightened vigilance in public spaces during the holiday period.

The crime rate in April 2024 (3.6 per 1,000) marked a sharp 111.2% increase compared to March's rate of 1.7 per 1,000, highlighting a significant upward trend over the past month. On a daily basis, this translated to roughly 1 crime per day in Westward Ho!, a figure that, while low, indicates a noticeable acceleration in reporting. Over the course of April, one reported crime occurred for every 280 residents, a monthly aggregate that provides context for the scale of incidents relative to the area's population of 5,321. This ratio is particularly noteworthy when compared to the UK average, where the density of population and urban infrastructure typically leads to higher crime exposure per capita. The localised nature of Westward Ho!—a built-up area within a rural district—means that crime impacts are distributed across a smaller community, potentially amplifying the visibility of each incident. The 111.2% month-on-month increase, however, underscores the need for careful interpretation: while the overall rate remains well below the UK average, the rapid rise in specific categories like anti-social behaviour suggests a dynamic that may warrant closer monitoring. For residents, the key takeaway is that the crime profile here is fundamentally different from the national picture, with low overall rates but concentrated spikes in certain offence types that demand targeted responses.