Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

August 2025 presented a complex crime picture for Westmorland and Furness, with the overall crime rate standing at 6.9 per 1,000 residents—14.8% below the UK average. This figure, while lower than the national benchmark, conceals significant shifts in the types of crimes being reported. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 44.6% of all incidents, with a rate of 3.1 per 1,000. This category is 8% above the UK average, a disparity that may be attributed to the district’s urban centres, where late-night activity and seasonal tourism could contribute to higher incidents. Criminal damage and arson (11.4% of total crimes) also rose sharply, with a rate of 0.8 per 1,000—36% above the UK average. This spike may be connected to the area’s rural and coastal character, where abandoned properties or increased summer visitors could heighten risks. Public order offences (10.3% of crimes) further highlighted tensions in communal spaces, with a rate of 0.7 per 1,000, 21% above the UK average. These trends align with August’s role as a peak holiday month, when empty homes, crowded public areas, and transient populations may create conditions conducive to certain crimes. However, the district’s overall safety profile remains comparatively strong, with anti-social behaviour (6.4% of crimes) at 0.4 per 1,000—73% below the UK average—suggesting effective local initiatives or community cohesion. As August’s seasonal context wanes, monitoring these trends will be critical to maintaining this balance.

August 2025 marked a stark increase in theft from the person, jumping from 4 to 43 incidents—a 975% rise—suggesting heightened vulnerability in public spaces. Bicycle theft also saw a 175% increase, likely tied to the influx of tourists and seasonal leisure activities. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson rose by 43.7%, potentially linked to the district’s rural and coastal landscapes where unoccupied properties may be targeted during the summer. Violence and sexual offences (3.1 per 1,000) remain 8% above the UK average, a figure that may reflect the impact of increased foot traffic in urban centres. Conversely, shoplifting dropped by 23%, due to stricter retail monitoring or seasonal closures. These shifts underscore the need for residents to remain vigilant in areas with high tourist activity and to report suspicious behaviour promptly.

Westmorland and Furness saw an 8.1% rise in the overall crime rate from July 2025 (6.4 per 1,000) to August 2025 (6.9 per 1,000). This increase, though modest, reflects shifting patterns in local crime dynamics. Daily crime activity averaged 51 reported incidents per day in August, a figure that contextualises the pace of criminal activity within the district’s population of 230,185. Over the course of the month, 1 in every 145 residents experienced a reported crime, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the population. While this rate remains 14.8% below the UK average, the upward trend in August highlights areas requiring closer attention, particularly in violent and property-related crimes. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the district’s crime burden, while lower than the national average, is not static and responds to seasonal and local factors such as increased tourism during the summer months.