Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate March 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Westmorland and Furness recorded a crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents in March 2023, maintaining its position 19.7% below the UK average (7.6 per 1,000). This figure, though higher than February’s 5.2 per 1,000, reflects a broader pattern of low-to-moderate crime typical of rural and semi-rural areas. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 42.1% of all incidents (592 cases), a rate (2.6 per 1,000) that is 5% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 10.8% (152 cases), with a 33% deficit compared to the UK average (1.0 per 1,000). These trends align with the area’s character: a mix of coastal communities, historic towns, and agricultural land, where social interactions in public spaces may contribute to anti-social behaviour. The seasonal context of March—a transition to spring with longer evenings—could also influence patterns, as increased foot traffic in local areas may drive both violent and disorderly incidents. However, property crimes remained lower than the UK average, with shoplifting at 0.2 per 1,000 (59% below UK levels) and vehicle crime at 0.2 per 1,000 (58% below UK levels), suggesting that the area’s dispersed population and limited retail density may act as natural deterrents. These figures underscore the complexity of crime patterns in regions where geographic and demographic factors interact with seasonal changes to shape local dynamics.

March 2023 marked a striking 300% increase in theft from the person, rising from one to four incidents—a sharp anomaly in an otherwise stable month. This surge, though small in absolute terms, may partly explain the overall 17.9% rise in the area’s crime rate compared to February. Meanwhile, possession of weapons rose 56.3%, a 25% increase from 16 to 25 incidents, which is 43% above the UK average (0.1 per 1,000). This category’s upward trend contrasts with the 66.7% drop in robbery, which fell from three to one incident. Such shifts highlight the volatility of specific crime types even within a low-crime area. For residents, the 59% below-average rate for shoplifting (0.2 per 1,000) offers reassurance, but the 58% deficit in vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) suggests vulnerabilities in transport-related security. The balance between violent and property crimes also shifted: while violence and sexual offences remained the most common category (42.1% of total crimes), property crimes dropped slightly, indicating a possible reallocation of criminal activity.

Westmorland and Furness saw a 17.9% increase in its crime rate from February 2023 (5.2 per 1,000) to March 2023 (6.1 per 1,000), marking the first upward movement in several months. This shift contrasts with the area’s generally lower-than-average crime profile, which has remained 19.7% below the UK average (7.6 per 1,000) for most of the year. Daily crime statistics reveal a consistent pace: 45 crimes reported each day in March, a figure that reflects both local patterns and seasonal rhythms. Over the course of the month, the monthly exposure rate of 1-in-163 residents indicates that while crime remains relatively rare, the increase in specific categories like theft from the person raises questions about localized factors. The population context also matters: with 230,185 residents, the area’s density is lower than many urban centres, which may influence crime dynamics. However, the rise in certain offence types suggests that changes in behaviour or environmental factors during March could be playing a role.