Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Westmorland and Furness in February 2024 reveals a distinct emphasis on violent crimes, with violence and sexual offences comprising 43.8% of all reported incidents. This dominance over property-related crimes—a category that includes burglary, vehicle crime, and theft—highlights a divergence from national trends, where property crimes often lead in many UK regions. The area’s crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents places it 15.5% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, a figure that, while significant, must be contextualised within the area’s geographic and demographic characteristics. As a largely rural and coastal district, Westmorland and Furness experiences crime patterns shaped by seasonal fluctuations and local economic factors. The winter months, with their reduced outdoor activity and shorter daylight hours, may contribute to a shift in crime types, with violent incidents—often occurring indoors—rising in prominence. This contrasts with the UK-wide tendency for property crimes to spike during periods of high outdoor activity, such as summer. The data also shows that anti-social behaviour, a category often linked to urban areas, was 52% below the UK average. This could be attributed to the area’s lower population density, which may reduce opportunities for such crimes. However, the rate of criminal damage and arson was 11% above the national average, a figure that may reflect the presence of older industrial sites and the challenges of maintaining infrastructure in a region with a history of heavy industry. These patterns illustrate the combination of local conditions and national crime trends, offering insight into how a specific area’s character influences its criminal landscape.

February 2024 saw a notable 62.9% increase in burglary cases, rising from 35 to 57. This jump, though not unprecedented, may align with seasonal patterns, as winter months often see higher indoor activity and potential vulnerabilities in residential security. Conversely, theft from the person plummeted by 50.0%, with only one reported incident compared to two in January. This decline could be attributed to reduced foot traffic in public spaces during colder weather. The crime mix also revealed stark contrasts with UK averages: anti-social behaviour was 52% below the national rate, reflecting the area’s lower population density and community-oriented policing efforts. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson exceeded the UK average by 11%, a figure that may correlate with the region’s industrial heritage and the presence of older infrastructure requiring maintenance. These shifts underscore the importance of understanding how local factors—such as geography and economic structure—interact with crime trends, even as broader national patterns provide context.

Westmorland and Furness recorded a crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents in February 2024, marking a 14.6% increase from the previous month’s rate of 5.2 per 1,000. This upward shift, though modest, suggests a temporary fluctuation in local dynamics. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 47 crimes per day in February—a figure that, while contextually relevant, does not directly reflect broader UK trends. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 168 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. This figure, when considered alongside the area’s population of 230,185, highlights that while crime remains a concern, it is not high compared to the size of the community. The increase in violent crime and property offences contrasts with the UK-wide trends in certain categories, such as anti-social behaviour, which in Westmorland and Furness was 52% below the national average. These disparities may reflect the area’s unique demographic or geographic profile, such as its rural and coastal characteristics, which could influence crime patterns differently than urban centres.