Bognor Regis Crime Rate March 2024 | Monthly Statistics

March 2024 marked a significant shift in Bognor Regis' crime profile, with the area recording a crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents — 11.7% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This places Bognor Regis among the safer built-up areas in the UK. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 32.9% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (14.8%) and criminal damage and arson (9.2%). These figures align with the area's character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist activity, where public spaces and nightlife contribute to certain crime types. Seasonal factors likely influenced these patterns: as March transitioned into spring, longer evenings may have altered foot traffic and activity levels in the town centre. However, the data also highlights pockets of divergence from national trends — for instance, drug-related incidents in Bognor Regis were 43% above the UK average, suggesting localised challenges that warrant further exploration. Meanwhile, shoplifting rates fell 17.8% compared to February, possibly reflecting seasonal retail patterns or heightened policing during the Easter shopping period. The interplay of these factors underscores the need for context-specific analysis, as national averages often obscure regional variations.

March 2024 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories, with robbery incidents surging by 500% compared to February — a jump from one to six reported cases. This sharp increase, while statistically significant, must be contextualised within the broader picture: robbery remained below the UK average (0.1 per 1,000 vs 0.1 per 1,000 nationally). Concurrently, theft from the person rose by 133.3%, reflecting a troubling trend in personal safety incidents. These spikes contrast with declines in other areas, such as bicycle theft, which fell by 60% (from five to two cases). The crime mix also shifted: property crimes (184) accounted for 37.8% of total incidents, while violent crimes (160) made up 32.9%. This balance suggests a complex dynamic between public safety concerns and property-related issues. Bognor Regis' drug-related crime rate (0.3 per 1,000) was 43% above the UK average (0.2 per 1,000), a disparity that may reflect localised factors such as proximity to major transport routes or changes in enforcement strategies. Residents might find the 18 daily crime figure — derived from 487 total incidents — particularly relevant, as it translates to an average of one reported crime for every 146 residents over the month. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in areas where local patterns diverge significantly from national trends.

Bognor Regis' crime rate rose by 14.2% in March 2024 compared to February's 6.0 per 1,000, marking a notable upward shift in the monthly figure. This increase, while modest in absolute terms, translates to a local daily crime count of approximately 16 incidents — a figure that, when contextualised, reveals the area's relative safety compared to other UK towns. Over the course of March, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 146 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, while not alarmingly high, underscores the need for consistent policing and community engagement. When benchmarked against the UK average, Bognor Regis' overall rate remains 11.7% below the national figure, a margin that suggests the area's built-up environment and coastal location may contribute to lower crime rates through factors such as community cohesion or effective local policing. However, this comparative advantage is not uniform across all crime categories: for instance, drug-related offences were 43% above the UK average, indicating a specific challenge that may require tailored approaches. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that, despite the 14.2% monthly increase, the absolute number of crimes (487) remains well within the range typical for a town of Bognor Regis' size (71,159 residents). This context is critical for residents and policymakers, as it highlights the importance of distinguishing between relative trends and absolute figures when assessing public safety.