Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

July 2023 marked a continuation of Westmorland and Furness’s lower-than-average crime profile, with a total crime rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents—30.1% below the UK average of 8.3. This figure reflects a sustained trend of reduced criminal activity, consistent with the area’s character as a largely rural and semi-urban district where community cohesion and lower population density may contribute to lower rates. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 43.4% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (11.1%) and criminal damage and arson (10.6%). These patterns align with seasonal factors typical of July: the summer months often see increased foot traffic in tourist areas and local festivals, which could partly explain the prominence of violence and anti-social behaviour. However, the overall crime rate remains lower than the UK average, suggesting effective local policing or community initiatives that may be mitigating risk factors. The relatively low incidence of property crimes—such as burglary (3.4%) and vehicle crime (2.1%)—further underscores the area’s distinct profile, linked to fewer high-density urban zones and limited retail hubs that typically drive such offences. While violence remains a concern, its rate of 2.5 per 1,000 is 10% below the UK average, indicating a combination of local deterrents and lower exposure to high-risk environments. Seasonal context also plays a role, with July’s peak tourism and outdoor events likely influencing crime patterns, though the overall downward trend in reported incidents suggests progress in maintaining public safety.

July 2023 saw significant reductions in several crime categories, with anti-social behaviour decreasing by 39.8% (from 246 to 148 incidents) and bicycle theft plummeting by 60.0% (from 10 to 4). These declines may reflect the impact of targeted local interventions, such as increased community engagement during summer festivals or improved lighting in public spaces. Conversely, theft from the person rose by 20.0% (from 5 to 6 incidents), a small but notable increase that could be linked to heightened foot traffic during peak tourist season. The crime mix also shifted slightly, with violent crimes maintaining dominance at 43.4% of total reports, though their rate (2.5 per 1,000) remains 10% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, which saw a substantial drop, was 58% below the UK average (0.6 vs 1.4 per 1,000), highlighting the area’s effectiveness in managing such issues. Other categories, such as drugs (36% above UK average) and possession of weapons (25% above UK average), show divergence from national trends, reflecting local socioeconomic factors or law enforcement priorities. Residents may find the 60% reduction in bicycle theft particularly reassuring, as it suggests that measures to secure public areas or promote bike-sharing programs could be yielding results.

The crime rate in July 2023 (5.8 per 1,000) represented an 18.3% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 7.1, marking a continued downward trajectory. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 43 crimes per day, a figure that, when contextualised against the local population of 230,185, translates to one reported crime for every 173 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, though no direct comparison is available for daily figures. The population-scaled perspective reveals that residents of Westmorland and Furness face a lower risk of encountering crime compared to the national average, with the area’s crime profile skewed toward lower-severity incidents such as anti-social behaviour and violence. The previous month’s rate of 7.1 per 1,000, while still below the UK average, indicates that the current downward trend is part of a broader pattern. This suggests that local efforts—whether through community policing, targeted crime prevention campaigns, or environmental design—may be contributing to sustained reductions. The disparity between daily crime counts and population-scaled statistics also underscores the importance of considering both frequency and context when assessing public safety, as Westmorland and Furness’s lower population density and rural characteristics likely influence both the volume and nature of reported incidents.