Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In May 2024, Westmorland and Furness maintained a crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents, 19% below the UK average of 8.4. The local crime profile was dominated by violent crimes, which accounted for 44.4% of all reported incidents, compared to property crimes at 27.8%. Violence and sexual offences (3.0 per 1,000) were the most prevalent category, slightly above the UK average (2.8 per 1,000), while anti-social behaviour (0.7 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.5 per 1,000) were significantly below national levels. This contrast may reflect the area’s rural and coastal character, where community policing and lower population density could contribute to reduced anti-social behaviour. Seasonal factors, such as longer evenings and increased outdoor activity during May’s bank holidays, may have amplified violent crime rates. However, the relatively low property crime figures—particularly for shoplifting (0.4 per 1,000, 38% below UK) and burglary (0.2 per 1,000, 35% below UK)—suggest that local economic conditions or effective prevention strategies may be playing a role. The area’s crime picture remains distinct from urban centres, with fewer vehicle crimes and thefts from the person, due to lower foot traffic in non-commercial zones.

May 2024 saw a notable shift in crime dynamics, with violent crimes (695) outnumbering property crimes (434) by nearly 60%. This imbalance, which is consistent with the area’s higher-than-average violence and sexual offence rates (3.0 per 1,000, 6% above UK), may reflect local factors such as community tensions or the impact of seasonal social events. Meanwhile, bicycle theft surged by 166.7% (3 to 8), a stark increase that could be linked to warmer weather and increased cycling activity. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 27.0% (37 to 27), due to fewer vehicles on the road during holidays or improved security measures. Anti-social behaviour also dropped by 17.2% (204 to 169), a decline that may be tied to reduced alcohol consumption during bank holidays or increased community engagement in local initiatives.

Westmorland and Furness recorded a crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents in May 2024, a 10.4% increase from the previous month’s rate of 6.2. This monthly rise aligns with seasonal trends, as May’s longer evenings and bank holidays may have contributed to increased socialising and outdoor activity. On average, 51 crimes were reported daily in May, a figure that translates to roughly one crime for every 147 residents over the course of the month. While this monthly exposure remains lower than the UK average, the local population context—spanning rural and coastal areas—means crime distribution differs from densely populated urban centres. The area’s relatively low vehicle crime rate (0.1 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.5 per 1,000) suggests fewer opportunities for such offences, due to lower traffic density or effective local policing in key areas.