Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The most striking anomaly in November 2024 was the 52.9% surge in 'Other crime', a category encompassing a wide range of non-specific offences that typically accounts for less than 5% of total crimes. This sharp increase, from 51 to 78 incidents, contrasts with the usual seasonal patterns observed in the area. Westmorland and Furness recorded a crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents in November, placing it 19.7% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. The local crime profile reveals a dominance of violent crimes, which accounted for 48.2% of all reported incidents (676 cases), significantly outpacing property crimes (361 cases). This imbalance suggests a heightened focus on interpersonal conflicts during the month, possibly influenced by the shorter days and colder weather typical of November. The area's mix of rural and urban environments likely contributes to this pattern, with violent incidents more concentrated in populated centres like Barrow-in-Furness. Seasonal factors such as Bonfire Night and the pre-Christmas shopping rush may have temporarily amplified tensions in public spaces, though can be confirmed without further analysis. Shoplifting rates remained 42% below the UK average, a trend consistent with the region's lower retail density compared to major urban hubs. The data also highlights a persistent gap in anti-social behaviour reporting, with local rates 64% below the UK average, reflecting community policing efforts or underreporting due to local norms.

The most dramatic shift in November 2024 was the 52.9% increase in 'Other crime', a category that includes everything from public disorder to unclassified incidents. This leap from 51 to 78 cases is particularly noteworthy given the category's usual low profile. Meanwhile, burglary rates fell by 40.5% (from 42 to 25 cases), a decline that may reflect improved home security measures or seasonal factors such as reduced foot traffic in rural areas. The area's violent crime rate (2.9 per 1,000) was 12% above the UK average, a discrepancy that could be linked to the local population's demographic profile, with higher concentrations of younger residents in certain areas. Conversely, anti-social behaviour incidents dropped by 30.8% (from 117 to 81), a decline that may be attributed to increased community engagement initiatives or the impact of colder weather reducing outdoor gatherings. Residents should note that shoplifting rates remained 42% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may be influenced by the area's limited high-street retail presence. The rise in 'Other crime' warrants closer examination, though no definitive explanation is available in the data provided. This category's volatility suggests the need for more granular categorisation to address underlying issues effectively.

Westmorland and Furness' crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents in November 2024 represents a 3.6% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.3 per 1,000. This slight decline aligns with the typical end-of-year dip in reported crimes observed in many UK regions, though local factors may have played a role. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 47 crimes per day in November, a figure that contextualises the monthly total of 1,402 incidents. This daily rate is lower than the UK average, which typically ranges between 50-60 crimes per day in similar-sized areas. Over the course of the month, 1 in every 164 residents in Westmorland and Furness experienced a reported crime, a ratio that is significantly more favourable than the UK average of roughly 1 in 130. This lower exposure rate, despite the area's violent crime concentration, may be attributed to its relatively low population density and the distribution of crime across different geographic zones. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the local crime rate is 19.7% below the UK average, a difference that becomes more pronounced when considering the area's smaller population base. This comparative advantage is most evident in categories like burglary and anti-social behaviour, where local rates are 68% and 64% below UK averages respectively, suggesting effective local policing strategies or environmental factors that deter certain types of crime.