Shoreham-by-Sea Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Shoplifting emerged as the dominant crime category in Shoreham-by-Sea during August 2023, accounting for 42.7% of all reported crimes. With a total crime rate of 8.9 per 1,000 residents, the area recorded a 9.9% increase above the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This surge in retail-related offences aligns with the town’s coastal tourism profile and the summer holiday season, which likely extends shop hours and increases foot traffic in retail zones. While shoplifting remains the most significant concern, violent crimes constituted 22.8% of the total, lower than the UK average for this category. The area’s crime profile reflects a mix of property and violent offences, with anti-social behaviour (10.0%) and criminal damage (6.6%) also contributing to the overall tally. Seasonal factors may partly explain the shoplifting spike, as August typically sees higher visitor numbers and potentially more unoccupied homes during holiday periods. However, the relatively low rates of burglary (1.4%) and vehicle crime (2.4%) suggest that local security measures or geographic characteristics—such as the town’s compact built-up area—may mitigate certain risks. The balance of crime types illustrates a combination of tourism-driven pressures and the community’s structural dynamics, with no single factor dominating the overall picture.

August 2023 saw a 38.5% increase in shoplifting, rising from 65 to 90 incidents—a sharp jump that underscores the impact of summer tourism on retail areas. This surge in property crime was accompanied by a 37.5% rise in other thefts, likely driven by the same seasonal factors. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 64.3% (from 14 to 5 incidents), and bicycle theft fell by 60.0%, indicating possible improvements in local anti-theft measures or reduced outdoor activity during the month. Shoplifting in Shoreham-by-Sea was 533% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000, highlighting the town’s unique exposure to this offence. Meanwhile, violent crime in the area was 24% below the UK average, with 48 incidents reported—suggesting that local initiatives or demographic factors may contribute to this lower rate. For residents, the 64.3% drop in vehicle crime offers a tangible example of how targeted interventions, such as increased police patrols or improved CCTV coverage, could influence specific crime trends. These shifts illustrate the dynamic nature of Shoreham-by-Sea’s crime profile, where seasonal and structural factors interact to shape monthly patterns.

Shoreham-by-Sea’s crime rate in August 2023 (8.9 per 1,000) marked a 12.1% decline from the previous month’s rate of 10.1 per 1,000, reflecting a notable shift in local crime dynamics. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 7 crimes per day during August, a figure that contextualises the pace at which incidents occur for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 112 residents—a monthly exposure rate that, while higher than the UK average, remains relatively low given the area’s population of 23,713. This statistic provides a clear benchmark for understanding the frequency of crime in relation to the local population. The drop in overall crime rate may be linked to seasonal factors, such as the end of the summer holiday season, which could reduce opportunities for shoplifting or other tourism-related offences. However, the persistent gap between Shoreham-by-Sea’s crime rate and the UK average—particularly in shoplifting—suggests that the town’s unique characteristics, such as its coastal location and reliance on retail tourism, continue to shape its crime profile. These comparisons offer residents and policymakers a nuanced view of how local conditions influence crime trends relative to national benchmarks.