Ackworth Moor Top Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Ackworth Moor Top's crime rate in August 2023 stood at 5.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 30.9% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This relatively low rate contrasts with the sharp rise in specific categories, other theft, which surged to 9 incidents — 75% above the UK average. Violence and sexual offences (13 cases) accounted for 28.9% of all crimes, a figure that is 39% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This divergence may reflect the area's character as a smaller, possibly semi-rural built-up area within Wakefield, where violent crime is less prevalent compared to larger urban centres. Other theft (20.0% of total crimes) and shoplifting (15.6%) emerged as the next most common categories, both exceeding UK averages. August's position as a peak holiday month may have influenced these patterns, with increased tourism and temporary residents contributing to theft-related incidents. However, anti-social behaviour (8.9%) and vehicle crime (8.9%) remained below UK averages, suggesting a mixed picture of crime dynamics. The overall rate, while lower than the national average, shows a marked shift in the balance of crime types, with property-related offences dominating over violent crime. This could be consistent with the area's character as a more residential, commuter-oriented locale, where property crimes are more common than interpersonal violence.

August 2023 saw a 350% increase in other theft, rising from 2 to 9 incidents — the most extreme month-on-month jump. Anti-social behaviour also surged by 300%, with reports tripling from 1 to 4. Violence and sexual offences rose by 116.7%, from 6 to 13 cases, a sharp increase that may reflect seasonal factors such as holiday-related tensions. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson fell by 75%, and burglary dropped by 33.3%. The rise in other theft is particularly striking, with the category now 75% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This suggests a possible shift in criminal activity. Residents may find the 350% jump in other theft particularly concerning, as it indicates a significant change in local patterns that could require targeted responses.

Ackworth Moor Top's crime rate rose by 45.2% from 3.8 to 5.6 per 1,000 residents between July and August 2023. This increase, though significant, remains 30.9% below the UK average. Locally, the monthly tally of 45 crimes translates to roughly one reported incident per day over the 31-day period. This daily figure offers residents a tangible sense of the scale of activity, though it must be noted that this is a local metric and not comparable to national averages. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 180 residents, a ratio that contextualises the exposure of the population to crime. While this rate is lower than the UK average, the month-on-month increase suggests a shift in patterns that warrants closer examination of local factors. The population of 8,088 residents provides a baseline for understanding how these figures scale, though the small size of the area means even minor fluctuations can appear substantial in absolute terms.