Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Westmorland and Furness in February 2025 reveals a distinct emphasis on violent crime, with violence and sexual offences accounting for nearly half (44.6%) of all reported incidents. This contrasts sharply with the UK average, where such crimes make up 2% less of the total. The area's crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents places it 19.4% below the UK average of 6.7, suggesting a broader pattern of lower overall criminal activity. However, the prominence of violent crime here may reflect local factors such as population density, social dynamics, or policing priorities. Public order offences (9.1%) and criminal damage (8.8%) also feature prominently, aligning with patterns often seen in mixed urban-rural areas where transient populations and seasonal events can influence such categories. Anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and other thefts are all significantly below UK averages, which may indicate effective community engagement or lower foot traffic in retail areas during winter. The seasonal context of February—a month marked by reduced outdoor activity and pre-spring lull—may have dampened opportunities for property crimes, though the persistent focus on violent crime suggests deeper systemic or environmental drivers. These patterns highlight the need to consider both geographic and temporal factors when interpreting crime data, rather than relying solely on aggregate figures.

February 2025 saw significant shifts in crime trends, with anti-social behaviour surging by 36.8% (from 68 to 93 incidents) and shoplifting rising by 31% (from 71 to 93). These increases may be linked to seasonal factors, such as colder weather driving more indoor interactions or disruptions in routine during the winter period. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 53.1% (from 32 to 15), and burglary fell by 37.5% (from 56 to 35), possibly reflecting reduced outdoor activity and fewer opportunities for theft in colder conditions. The area's violent crime rate (2.4 per 1,000) matches the UK average, but public order offences (0.5 per 1,000) are 14% above the national figure, suggesting potential challenges in managing public spaces during this time of year. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting are both well below UK averages, with anti-social behaviour 59% lower than the national rate. For residents, the sharp drop in vehicle crime offers a tangible reassurance, though the rise in anti-social behaviour underscores the need for targeted community interventions.

Westmorland and Furness' crime rate in February 2025 (5.4 per 1,000) represents a 2.4% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.5, indicating a slight downward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 44 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the pace of criminal activity in a localised timeframe. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 186 residents, a monthly exposure rate that provides a clear benchmark for residents assessing their personal risk. When compared to the UK average, this area's lower overall crime rate suggests a combination of geographic factors—such as a more dispersed population or effective policing strategies—and the notable underperformance of certain categories like anti-social behaviour and shoplifting against national averages. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the area is not immune to crime, its residents experience a lower frequency of incidents compared to the UK as a whole. This contrast is particularly evident in categories like burglary and vehicle crime, where the area's rates are 26% and 73% below the UK average respectively, potentially reflecting differences in housing density, transportation infrastructure, or community cohesion.