February 2025 marked a notable improvement in Southwick (Adur)’s crime profile, with the overall crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents placing the area 4.5% below the UK average of 6.7. This performance reflects a combination of seasonal factors and ongoing local efforts. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 34.6% of all incidents. monthly decline to 28 reports — a rate of 2.2 per 1,000, 6% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed at 12.4% of total crimes, with a 33.3% reduction to 10 incidents. These decreases align with the pre-spring lull typical of winter months, when colder weather and reduced outdoor activity may limit opportunities for certain offences. However, the area’s crime picture remains complex, with spikes in public order offences (up 133.3%) and criminal damage and arson (up 116.7%) highlighting areas requiring focused attention. The latter category, at 1.0 per 1,000, is 108% above the UK average, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in property security or community engagement. Meanwhile, shoplifting dropped by 45.5% to 6 incidents, a trend that may reflect improved retail security measures or reduced foot traffic during the winter season. The overall balance between property and violent crimes remains skewed, with property crimes (33 incidents) accounting for 40.7% of total reports, compared to 34.6% for violent offences. This distribution is consistent with Southwick’s character as a built-up area within Adur, where retail and residential zones likely contribute to property-related incidents. The seasonal context of February — a month of low outdoor activity and pre-spring transition — may also explain the fluctuating patterns, with some crimes likely influenced by weather-related constraints and others by shifts in community behaviour. While the area’s performance against the UK average is encouraging, the variance in specific categories underscores the need for targeted strategies to address outliers without compromising broader improvements.