Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Westmorland and Furness reported a crime rate of 5.5 per 1,000 residents in January 2025, placing it 22.5% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This performance highlights the area’s relative safety, particularly in categories such as shoplifting, which stood at 0.3 per 1,000—52% below the national average. Violence and sexual offences, however, remained a prominent concern, accounting for 47.8% of all crimes, with a rate of 2.6 per 1,000, just 4% above the UK figure. The seasonal context of January—marked by post-holiday periods, reduced retail activity, and shorter daylight hours—likely contributes to the lower overall crime rate, though the persistence of violent crime suggests ongoing challenges in specific areas. The area’s crime profile is shaped by its geographical and demographic characteristics, with a mix of rural and coastal communities that may influence patterns of property crime and public order issues. For instance, the significant drop in shoplifting could be linked to the reduced footfall in high streets during the winter months, while the relatively low vehicle crime rate (0.1 per 1,000) may reflect the area’s lower population density and fewer urban centres. These factors, combined with the UK-wide comparison, illustrate a region that, while generally safer than the national average, faces unique challenges in addressing violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

January 2025 saw a 200% rise in robbery incidents, jumping from one to three cases—a stark anomaly in an otherwise stable month. This spike contrasts with declines in other categories, including a 50% reduction in theft from the person and a 33% drop in other thefts. The area’s violent crime rate (2.6 per 1,000) remained 4% above the UK average, while shoplifting rates were 52% below the national figure, likely reflecting the post-holiday lull in retail footfall. Anti-social behaviour and burglary also rose by 21.4% and 21.7% respectively, indicating potential shifts in local dynamics. These trends suggest that while some crime types are receding, others are emerging as focal points for community concern.

Westmorland and Furness recorded a crime rate of 5.5 per 1,000 residents in January 2025, marking a 4.2% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.7. This decline aligns with the seasonal context of January, a period typically characterised by reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours, which may partly explain lower outdoor crime levels. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 41 crimes per day, a figure that, while locally relevant, does not directly compare to national daily statistics. When viewed through the lens of population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 182 residents—a rate that underscores the area’s relative safety compared to the UK average. The drop in overall crime, coupled with specific category trends, suggests a combination of seasonal factors and local policing efforts, though further data would be needed to confirm this definitively.