Bewdley Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Bewdley's November 2024 crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 residents stands 38.2% below the UK average of 7.6, a stark contrast to national trends. The most significant outlier is the possession of weapons, which recorded 0.2 per 1,000 residents—233% above the UK average of 0.1. This anomaly, though small in absolute terms, raises questions about local enforcement or reporting practices. Violence and sexual offences remain the most common category, accounting for 35.9% of all crimes, but at 1.7 per 1,000, they are 34% below the UK average. Other theft and vehicle crime each contribute 13.2% of total incidents, with the latter 36% above the UK average. Seasonal factors likely influenced these patterns: Bonfire Night may have contributed to increased public order concerns, while Black Friday shopping could explain the single shoplifting incident. However, the overall crime profile suggests a community with lower baseline risk compared to urban areas, due to Bewdley's status as a historic market town with a strong sense of community. The low burglary rate—0.1 per 1,000, 68% below the UK average—may reflect the town's compact layout and limited high-value property concentrations. Despite the spike in weapons possession, the broader trend of falling crime rates aligns with the quieter winter months, when outdoor activity and retail footfall are typically lower.

November 2024 saw a 100% increase in shoplifting, with one reported incident compared to zero in the previous month. This rise may be linked to Black Friday shopping activity, though the overall rate for shoplifting remains 86% below the UK average. Vehicle crime also rose by 75%, from four to seven incidents, a shift that could reflect increased car ownership or changes in parking patterns. Conversely, burglary rates plummeted by 87.5%, from eight to one incident, due to heightened community awareness or seasonal factors. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category, remained 34% below the UK average at 1.7 per 1,000. The sharp increase in possession of weapons—doubling from zero to two cases—raises questions about local enforcement or reporting practices, though this category's rate is 233% above the UK average, an outlier requiring further analysis.

Bewdley's crime rate in November 2024 fell to 4.7 per 1,000 residents, a 23.2% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.1. This decline aligns with broader seasonal trends, as November typically sees reduced foot traffic in retail areas compared to the peak of the festive season. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of two crimes per day, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall rate. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 214 residents, a monthly exposure that is lower than the UK average. With a population of 11,348, this suggests that the local community experiences fewer incidents per capita than the national average, though variations in local demographics and geography may contribute to this divergence. The drop in violent crime, particularly in violence and sexual offences, may partly explain the overall decline, as these categories often dominate monthly totals in similar-sized towns.