Featherstone Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Featherstone (Wakefield) in September 2023 reveals a stark dominance of violent crime over property offences, with 67 violent incidents (52.3% of total crimes) compared to 35 property crimes. This 32.5% above UK average rate (10.6 vs 8.0 per 1,000) highlights a significant deviation from national trends, particularly in violence and sexual offences (5.5 per 1,000) which were 101% above the UK average. The seasonal context of September—marked by back-to-school activity and the onset of darker evenings—may contribute to increased social interactions and potential conflicts in public spaces. While criminal damage and arson (1.3 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.9 per 1,000) also exceeded UK averages, anti-social behaviour (1.0 per 1,000) fell 25% below the national rate, possibly reflecting local community engagement initiatives. The data suggests a combination of environmental factors, such as the built-up area's proximity to educational institutions, and policing priorities. With 52.3% of crimes classified as violence and sexual offences, the area's crime picture contrasts sharply with the UK's broader trend of property crime prevalence. This imbalance may indicate challenges in addressing aggression-related incidents, which now dominate the crime profile, while property crime rates remain relatively contained. The seasonal transition in September, with its associated changes in social activity and lighting conditions, may further influence these patterns.

September 2023 saw a 200% surge in 'other crime' reports, rising from 1 to 3 incidents. This category, which includes unclassified offences, may partly reflect seasonal shifts as the area transitions from summer to autumn. Bicycle theft doubled to 1 incident, possibly linked to increased cycling during the school term. Public order offences rose by 37.5% (8 to 11), suggesting heightened social activity as evenings lengthen. Violent crimes—accounting for 52.3% of all incidents—were 101% above the UK average (2.7 vs 5.5 per 1,000). This imbalance between property and violent crime may indicate challenges in addressing aggression-related incidents, which now dominate the crime profile. Meanwhile, shoplifting fell by 37.5% (from 8 to 5), due to increased retail security measures or seasonal shopping patterns.

Featherstone's crime rate in September 2023 remained stable compared to the previous month, declining marginally by 0.8% to 10.6 per 1,000 residents from 10.7. This consistency suggests no abrupt shifts in policing efforts or community dynamics. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 4 crimes per day over the 30-day period, translating to a monthly exposure rate of 1 reported crime for every 95 residents. While this figure reflects the local context, it underscores the need for ongoing vigilance. The population-scaled perspective reveals that, despite the rate being 32.5% above the UK average, the absolute number of crimes (128) remains manageable for a built-up area of 12,098 people. The stability in overall crime rate contrasts with significant fluctuations in specific categories, which are detailed in the highlights section.