Westward Ho! Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Westward Ho!’s crime rate in February 2025 stood at 4.3 per 1,000 residents, 35.8% below the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000. This figure positions the area as one of the UK’s safer built-up regions. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 47.8% of all crimes, with 11 incidents reported—2.1 per 1,000 residents. This rate is 11% below the UK average for this category, consistent with the area’s low population density and likely influenced by its coastal character, where outdoor activity is limited in winter. Criminal damage and arson, however, emerged as a significant outlier: at 7 incidents (1.3 per 1,000), this category was 171% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. Such a stark deviation may reflect localized factors, such as the area’s seasonal dynamics—February’s pre-spring lull and reduced tourism could leave public spaces less monitored, increasing opportunities for vandalism. Other categories, including anti-social behaviour and theft from the person, saw single incidents, though these were 79% and 25% below UK averages, respectively. The overall crime mix suggests a balance between violent and property offences, with property crimes making up 39% of the total (9 incidents) and violent crimes 47.8%. This split aligns with the area’s profile as a small, built-up coastal town, where property-related issues may arise from limited housing stock and seasonal fluctuations in resident activity.

February 2025 saw a 250% increase in criminal damage and arson, jumping from 2 to 7 incidents. This category’s rate of 1.3 per 1,000 residents—171% above the UK average—contrasts sharply with the area’s overall lower crime profile. Anti-social behaviour and theft from the person both doubled from zero to one incident, while vehicle crime fell by half, from 2 to 1. The violent crime category, at 11 incidents, remained 11% below the UK average of 2.4 per 1,000, suggesting local factors may be mitigating violence. For residents, the surge in criminal damage and arson—a category typically linked to vandalism or arson in low-density areas—raises questions about seasonal influences, such as increased property maintenance during colder months or targeted acts in quieter, more isolated parts of the built-up area.

Westward Ho!’s crime rate in February 2025 rose to 4.3 per 1,000 residents, a 43.5% increase from the previous month’s 3.0 per 1,000. This shift reflects a notable uptick in specific categories. below the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000. Daily crime context shows 23 total crimes over 28 days, equating to roughly one crime per day—a figure that, while local, underscores the area’s relatively low crime density compared to national trends. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate of 1-in-231 residents highlights that most residents experience no crime during the month, aligning with the area’s character as a small, low-density built-up area. The population context further illustrates that even with the 43.5% month-on-month rise, the absolute number of crimes remains modest, suggesting that local factors—rather than systemic trends—are shaping the current picture.