Ossett Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Ossett’s crime rate for January 2024 was 6.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 16.2% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This figure highlights the area’s relatively low crime profile, though the breakdown of offences reveals intriguing nuances. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 44.6% of all crimes, a rate of 2.8 per 1,000 that is 8% above the UK average. This discrepancy may be influenced by local factors such as the built-up area’s proximity to Wakefield’s urban core, where higher concentrations of residents and services could contribute to more frequent interpersonal disputes. Public order offences and criminal damage and arson followed closely, each contributing 10.0% and 9.2% of total crimes respectively, both of which exceeded the UK average by 25% and 5%. These figures suggest a potential link to the area’s seasonal context: January’s post-holiday period, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall may have created conditions conducive to minor public disturbances. Conversely, anti-social behaviour was 49% below the UK average, reflecting effective community engagement or the influence of Ossett’s semi-rural character, which may foster stronger social cohesion. The overall crime mix was heavily skewed towards violent offences, with property-related crimes comprising only 30.8% of the total. This imbalance could be attributed to the area’s limited retail presence compared to larger towns, reducing opportunities for shoplifting or vehicle crime. However, the sharp rise in other crime (+150%) and shoplifting (+71.4%) suggests a need for further analysis, as these categories may indicate emerging trends or unreported incidents. The data also reveals a consistent underperformance in burglary and vehicle crime, which were 44% and 60% below the UK average respectively, due to the area’s lower density and more dispersed residential layout, which could limit opportunities for such offences. While the overall rate remains encouragingly low, the specific patterns in violent and public order crimes warrant attention, particularly as January’s seasonal factors may have amplified existing vulnerabilities.

January 2024 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with other crime surging by 150% compared to December, rising from two to five incidents. This sharp increase, though small in absolute terms, underscores a potential shift in criminal activity patterns, possibly linked to post-holiday administrative changes or unreported incidents. Meanwhile, shoplifting and criminal damage and arson both rose by 71.4% and 50.0% respectively, reflecting a 12% share of all crimes. These increases contrast with declines in burglary (-55.6%) and vehicle crime (-50.0%), which fell below the UK average by 44% and 60% respectively. The area’s anti-social behaviour rate was 49% below the UK average, a notable divergence that may reflect Ossett’s community policing efforts or the influence of its semi-rural setting on social dynamics. For residents, the 150% jump in other crime—though not yet linked to specific incidents—could signal a need for heightened awareness in less-monitored areas during January’s shorter days.

Ossett’s crime rate in January 2024 stood at 6.2 per 1,000 residents, marking a 4.5% decrease from December’s 6.5 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the typical seasonal pattern of reduced outdoor activity and retail footfall during winter months, though the area’s overall rate remains 16.2% below the UK average. Daily crime statistics reveal an average of four reported incidents each day in January, a figure that contextualises the pace of activity within the built-up area. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 162 residents, a monthly exposure rate that suggests a relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. When considering the population-scaled perspective, Ossett’s 21,019 residents experienced a crime rate that places the area among the safer built-up areas in the UK, particularly given the significant underperformance in categories like vehicle crime and burglary relative to national averages. This contrast highlights the area’s unique characteristics, possibly influenced by its semi-rural proximity and community-focused infrastructure, which may contribute to lower rates of property-related offences.