Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Westmorland and Furness reported a crime rate of 6.9 per 1,000 in July 2024, placing it 17.9% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This improvement, while modest, reflects a broader trend of declining crime in the area relative to national benchmarks. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 47.1% of all incidents (748 cases), followed by public order offences (9.1%) and criminal damage and arson (8.6%). These figures suggest a persistent focus on interpersonal and public safety challenges, even as the overall rate remains lower than the UK average. The seasonal context of July—peak summer, with schools closed and tourism at its height—likely contributes to the prominence of certain crime types. For instance, the high incidence of violence and sexual offences may be linked to increased foot traffic in town centres and the social dynamics of a tourist-heavy environment. Conversely, the relatively low rates of burglary (3.1%) and vehicle crime (1.8%) align with the area’s character as a largely rural and semi-urban district, where opportunities for such crimes may be limited by sparse population density and community-oriented policing efforts. The UK comparison data also reveals notable divergences: while violence and sexual offences exceed the national average by 16%, anti-social behaviour is 59% below the UK rate, indicating a successful focus on community-based crime prevention strategies in this region. These patterns underscore the importance of tailoring local responses to the unique demographic and geographic factors of Westmorland and Furness, ensuring that resources are directed where they are most needed.

July 2024 brought a marked reduction in anti-social behaviour, with incidents falling by 35.3% compared to June, from 201 to 130. This decline may reflect the impact of summer-specific initiatives or heightened community engagement during the peak tourism season. Conversely, bicycle theft surged by 225%, rising from four to 13 incidents, a stark contrast that highlights vulnerabilities in outdoor security during the warmer months. Violence and sexual offences also increased by 11.1%, reaching 748 cases—16% above the UK average for this category. This spike, though modest, underscores the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, vehicle crime dropped by 34.1%, and possession of weapons fell by 77.1%, suggesting that some crime trends are stabilising or improving. These shifts illustrate the dynamic nature of crime patterns in the area, with certain categories responding to seasonal factors while others remain elevated.

Westmorland and Furness recorded a crime rate of 6.9 per 1,000 in July 2024, a 2.1% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 7.0 per 1,000. This small decline aligns with broader seasonal trends, as summer months often see fluctuations in crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 51 crimes per day in July, reflecting the monthly total of 1,587 incidents spread over 31 days. This daily figure provides a tangible sense of the frequency of crime for residents, though it remains lower than the UK average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 145 residents, a metric that contextualises the scale of crime relative to the local population. This monthly exposure rate is particularly relevant for understanding how often residents might encounter crime in their daily lives, even if the overall rate remains below the national average.