Westmorland and Furness Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Westmorland and Furness maintained a crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 in January 2026, placing it 20.6% below the UK average of 6.8. This performance aligns with the area's broader historical trend of lower-than-average crime rates, a pattern consistent with its mix of rural and coastal geography, which may limit certain types of urban crime. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 48.8% of all reported incidents, followed by criminal damage and arson (10.0%) and public order offences (9.4%). These figures contrast with the UK averages for similar categories, where violence and sexual offences are slightly lower (2.5 per 1,000) and public order offences are higher (0.4 per 1,000). The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—likely contributed to the lower rates of shoplifting and vehicle crime compared to busier months. However, the prominence of violent crime suggests that factors such as local social dynamics or winter-related tensions may play a role. The area's relatively low levels of anti-social behaviour (78% below the UK average) and drug-related crime (29% below) further distinguish it from the national picture, though these metrics may reflect both genuine differences in community characteristics and the challenges of reporting in sparsely populated regions.

January 2026 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories, with robbery and theft from the person both doubling compared to December, marking a 200% and 100% increase respectively. These spikes, though small in absolute terms (6 and 4 incidents), could reflect heightened vulnerability during the post-holiday period or shifts in criminal activity patterns. Conversely, bicycle theft dropped by two-thirds (from 6 to 2 incidents), a decline that may be linked to colder weather deterring outdoor theft or increased awareness campaigns. The area also recorded a 29% reduction in drug-related crime, a decrease that aligns with broader national trends but remains an area requiring further analysis. Violent crime, while still the most common category, was 4% above the UK average, a divergence that may be influenced by the region's demographic profile or local incidents. Meanwhile, shoplifting remained 30% below the UK average, a consistent feature that could be attributed to the area's limited retail density or the impact of rural isolation on targeted crime. These shifts underscore the need for ongoing monitoring of both rising and declining trends to inform community safety strategies.

Westmorland and Furness' crime rate in January 2026 fell to 5.4 per 1,000, a 5.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.6. This decline, though modest, reinforces the area's position as one of the UK's safer local authority districts. On a daily basis, the region experienced approximately 40 reported crimes per day—a figure that, while context-dependent, is likely influenced by the area's lower population density and geographical spread. When scaled to the local population of 230,185, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 187 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides a tangible benchmark for residents, illustrating that the likelihood of being directly affected by crime remains relatively low. However, the persistent presence of violent crime—despite the overall downward trend—highlights the importance of targeted interventions in specific high-risk areas. The comparison to the UK average also reveals a stark contrast in certain categories, such as anti-social behaviour, where the area's rate is 78% below the national figure. This divergence may reflect both genuine differences in community engagement and the challenges of accurately measuring crime in less densely populated regions.