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

Shoplifting dominated Shoreham-by-Sea’s crime profile in October 2023, with 50 incidents reported—262% above the UK average for the category. This stark outlier contrasts with the area’s overall crime rate of 6.3 per 1,000 residents, which is 21.3% below the UK average of 8.0. The breakdown reveals a mix of retail-focused and community-driven issues: shoplifting (33.6% of all crimes) and violence and sexual offences (30.9%) form the top two categories. Anti-social behaviour (12.8%) follows, though it remains significantly below the UK average. October’s seasonal context—shorter days, Halloween, and the clocks going back—likely influenced patterns, with increased retail activity during darker evenings potentially contributing to shoplifting trends. The area’s character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and commercial zones may explain the balance between property crimes (67 incidents) and violent offences (46 incidents), though the overall rate remains well below the UK average. This suggests effective local policing or community engagement initiatives, though such claims remain speculative without further data.

October 2023 saw significant shifts in crime patterns compared to September. Bicycle theft doubled (1 to 2 incidents), likely linked to seasonal cycling activity or increased visibility of bikes during darker evenings. Conversely, vehicle crime fell sharply by 80% (5 to 1), possibly due to reduced car usage during the month or improved security measures. Other theft also dropped by 60% (10 to 4). Shoplifting’s 262% gap above the UK average stands out: while the UK reports 0.6 per 1,000 for the category, Shoreham-by-Sea’s 2.1 per 1,000 suggests a need for targeted retail crime prevention. Violence and sexual offences, at 1.9 per 1,000, are 30% below the UK average, possibly reflecting the town’s relatively low population density and community-focused environment. The drop in criminal damage and arson (18 to 8) may indicate seasonal factors, with fewer outdoor activities in October compared to summer months.

Shoreham-by-Sea’s October 2023 crime rate of 6.3 per 1,000 residents marks a 28.1% decrease from the previous month’s 8.7 per 1,000, a shift that aligns with typical seasonal patterns in coastal areas. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 5 crimes per day in October, a figure that, when scaled to the population of 23,713, translates to one reported crime for every 159 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, which is not provided for direct comparison but suggests a generally safer environment relative to national trends. The population-scaled perspective highlights that residents are less likely to encounter crime than the UK average, though localised issues like shoplifting remain concentrated in specific areas. This contrast between overall safety and particular challenges underscores the need for targeted interventions without overgeneralising the town’s security profile.