Wrexham Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Wrexham’s December 2023 crime rate of 8.7 per 1,000 residents placed the area 20.8% above the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000. This elevated rate was driven by a concentration of violent crimes, which accounted for 43.2% of all incidents, and anti-social behaviour, which contributed 16.2% of the total. Violence and sexual offences, at 3.7 per 1,000, were 41% above the UK average, while anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson also exceeded national norms by 51% and 61%, respectively. These figures align with the seasonal context of December, a month marked by extended dark evenings, Christmas shopping activity, and the potential for empty homes during the holidays. The higher-than-average rates of violent crime may partly explain the sharp increase in public order offences, which rose by 37.7% compared to November. However, the data also highlights pockets of lower-than-expected crime, such as vehicle crime (33% below the UK average) and other theft (15% below), suggesting that certain areas or demographics may be less affected by the seasonal pressures. The mix of crime types reflects a combination of local factors, including the presence of retail centres, which may drive shoplifting, and the social dynamics of a town with a mix of urban and rural characteristics. While the overall rate remains a concern, the decline in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting from the previous month offers a glimmer of progress in addressing some of the most persistent issues.

December 2023 saw unexpected spikes in robbery, drugs, and public order offences, with robbery rising by 100% from zero to two incidents. This increase, though small in absolute terms, contrasts sharply with the 66.7% drop in theft from the person, which fell from six to two cases. The drugs category also surged by 75%, moving from 16 to 28 reports, a shift that may reflect changes in local patterns during the festive season. Meanwhile, public order offences rose by 37.7%, driven by the 84 incidents recorded, a notable jump from November’s 61. These increases stand in contrast to declines in shoplifting, which dropped by 43.7% to 76 cases, and possession of weapons, which fell by 45.5% to six reports. Violent crimes, which accounted for 43.2% of all incidents, remained 41% above the UK average, highlighting a persistent challenge for local authorities. The data also reveals that other theft and vehicle crime were below the UK average, suggesting a complex mix of factors influencing different crime types.

Wrexham’s December 2023 crime rate of 8.7 per 1,000 residents marked a 6.0% decline from the previous month’s rate of 9.2 per 1,000. This monthly decrease, though modest, contrasts with the area’s position above the UK average. On a daily basis, 39 crimes were reported each day in December, a figure that reflects the density of incidents over the 31-day period. When scaled to the population of 138,245, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 116 residents. This ratio underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the local population, though it does not capture the distribution of crime types or their geographic concentration. The drop in the overall rate may partly explain the reduction in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, both of which fell significantly compared to November. However, the increase in robbery and public order offences suggests that certain aspects of the crime picture remain volatile, particularly during the festive season when social dynamics shift.