Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Westmorland and Furness in February 2024 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property crimes, shaped by both local characteristics and seasonal factors. Violence and sexual offences dominated with 43.8% of all reported crimes, a category that, while slightly above the UK average by 4%, remains lower than the national rate overall. This dominance of violent crime may reflect the area’s mix of rural and coastal environments, where interpersonal conflicts can arise in more isolated settings. Property crimes, including criminal damage and arson (10.0%) and anti-social behaviour (8.8%), were also significant, though anti-social behaviour was 52% below the UK average. This discrepancy may be attributed to the area’s lower population density and the absence of large urban centres that often correlate with higher rates of anti-social incidents. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with limited outdoor activity—likely contributed to the overall crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000, which is 15.5% below the UK average. While violence and sexual offences surged compared to the UK average for this category, the broader trend of lower property crime rates suggests a unique dynamic that could be influenced by the area’s quieter community networks and reduced economic activity during colder months. The balance of crime types highlights a scenario where interpersonal crime holds more prominence than property-related offences, a contrast to many urban areas where property crime often dominates.

February 2024 saw a notable 62.9% increase in burglary cases, rising from 35 to 57, a shift that may reflect seasonal changes in household security practices or increased indoor activity during colder weather. Concurrently, vehicle crime rose by 46.3% (41 to 60), potentially linked to higher vehicle usage during winter months or changes in parking patterns. In contrast, theft from the person fell by 50.0% (from 2 to 1), due to reduced foot traffic in retail and public areas during the pre-spring lull. Anti-social behaviour, which accounted for 8.8% of crimes, remained 52% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may align with the area’s lower population density and quieter community dynamics. Violence and sexual offences, at 2.6 per 1,000, were 4% above the UK average, suggesting a localised factor influencing this category despite the overall rate being below the national benchmark.

Westmorland and Furness recorded 6.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in February 2024, a 14.6% increase from the previous month’s rate of 5.2. This rise occurred despite the winter lull typically associated with reduced outdoor activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 47 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the scale of activity against local rhythms. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 168 residents, reflecting a relatively low level of exposure compared to densely populated regions. This monthly exposure rate, when considered alongside the area’s population of 230,185, suggests that crime remains dispersed rather than concentrated in specific hotspots. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that while the overall rate is below the UK average, the month-on-month increase indicates a shift in patterns that may warrant closer attention to local factors.