Barnham (Arun) Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

February 2026 saw Barnham (Arun) maintain a crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 residents, significantly below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This 26.6% deficit underscores a generally safer environment compared to national benchmarks, though the crime profile reveals a distinct balance between property and violent offences. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 28.2% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (18.0%) and shoplifting (10.3%). The dominance of violent crime over property crime—despite property offences making up 35.9% of the total—suggests a combination of local dynamics. Seasonal factors likely contribute to this pattern, as February’s cold weather and low outdoor activity may reduce opportunities for property crime while leaving interpersonal disputes more concentrated in indoor spaces. Violent crime rates in Barnham are 44% below the UK average for this category, consistent with the area’s character as a relatively low-density built-up area where community cohesion may mitigate conflict. However, the 344% above UK average rate for robbery raises questions about specific vulnerabilities, linked to isolated incidents or targeted opportunities in local businesses. The overall crime rate, though lower than national levels, remains a reminder that even modest figures can have local significance when scaled to a population of 8,276.

February 2026 marked sharp fluctuations in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime, drugs, and robbery each surging by 100% compared to January. This spike in vehicle crime—a single incident in a month—may reflect seasonal shifts in parking patterns or increased vehicle movement during colder weather. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 33.3%, possibly due to reduced foot traffic in retail areas during the winter lull. The crime mix also showed a clear tilt toward violent crime, which accounted for 28.2% of all incidents, compared to property crime’s 35.9%. While property crime rates in Barnham are 14% below the UK average for shoplifting, the 344% above UK average for robbery highlights a stark outlier. This discrepancy may indicate localized risk factors, such as the presence of high-value targets or unsecured premises in specific parts of the built-up area. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.9 per 1,000, was only 1% below the UK average, suggesting that while community tensions remain manageable, they are not entirely absent. Residents might find the 100% increase in drug-related incidents particularly noteworthy, as it could signal emerging issues in local networks or enforcement patterns.

Barnham’s February 2026 crime rate of 4.7 per 1,000 residents represents a 2.5% decline from the previous month’s 4.8 per 1,000, reflecting a slight but sustained trend toward lower overall crime. On a daily basis, this translates to approximately one crime reported every 28 days, a figure that, while low, remains a tangible presence for a community of 8,276 people. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 212 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contrasts with the UK average but aligns with Barnham’s status as a relatively low-crime built-up area. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while Barnham’s crime rate is below national levels, the absolute number of incidents—39 in total—still requires attention. For context, this equates to a crime occurring roughly every 212 residents, a figure that, while modest, underscores the importance of localized awareness. The previous month’s rate, though only marginally higher, suggests that seasonal factors and community-specific dynamics may play a role in maintaining this low but stable crime environment. Residents might find the 1-in-212 monthly exposure rate useful for understanding risk in relation to their immediate surroundings, though this statistic should be interpreted alongside the broader context of Barnham’s built-up area characteristics.