Littlehampton Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences surged in Littlehampton during November 2023, marking the most unexpected shift in the area's crime profile. The overall crime rate reached 9.6 per 1,000 residents, 28% above the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This stark deviation from national trends contrasts with the typically lower crime rates observed in coastal towns with strong community engagement. The dominance of violent crime—accounting for 40.5% of all reported incidents—diverges from the usual balance seen in similar areas, where property crimes often lead. Seasonal factors may have played a role: Bonfire Night events, which typically draw large crowds to Littlehampton's waterfront, coincided with a sharp rise in violence. Black Friday shopping also brought increased foot traffic to retail areas. compared to October, a decline that may reflect heightened police presence or improved retail security measures. The area's character as a mixed-use coastal town with a significant elderly population and seasonal tourism could explain some patterns, though the surge in violent crime remains unexplained by available data. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage also rose above UK averages, suggesting a combination of localised tensions and seasonal disruptions to community dynamics. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions during high-traffic periods, while the broader crime rate underscores the area's vulnerability to spikes in specific offence categories.

November 2023 saw a 38.5% increase in violence and sexual offences, the most significant single-month jump in this category since records began. This surge, from 52 to 72 incidents, places Littlehampton's rate at 3.9 per 1,000 residents—51% above the UK average. The rise in violent crime defies expectations for a coastal town with relatively low population density, though it aligns with the timing of Bonfire Night events in late November. Possession of weapons also spiked by 100%, with two incidents reported compared to one in October, a figure that exceeds the UK average by 67%. Conversely, shoplifting dropped sharply by 54.8% (31 to 14 incidents), possibly due to increased surveillance in retail areas during Black Friday. Public order offences fell by 66.7%, from 30 to 10, though this decrease was not mirrored in other categories. The crime mix shifted significantly, with violent crime accounting for 40.5% of all incidents—double the UK average for this category. This imbalance suggests a departure from typical patterns in similar areas, where property crimes often dominate. Bicycle theft rose 150% above the UK average, a figure that may reflect increased cycling during colder months or unexplained vulnerabilities in local infrastructure.

Littlehampton's November 2023 crime rate of 9.6 per 1,000 represents a 19.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 11.9 per 1,000, a decline that suggests some stabilisation after a period of elevated activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 6 crimes per day in November, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 104 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is higher than the UK average, though direct comparisons are not provided for this metric. The population context reveals that Littlehampton's crime rate, while above national levels, remains lower than many comparable urban centres. For example, the 9.6 per 1,000 rate is significantly below the 15-20 per 1,000 rates seen in larger cities like Manchester or Birmingham. However, the 28% gap above the UK average still indicates room for improvement in local policing strategies. The decrease from October to November was most pronounced in public order offences and shoplifting, though these declines were offset by increases in violence and weapons-related crimes. This fluctuation highlights the challenge of maintaining consistent crime reduction efforts in an area with seasonal variations in population and activity levels. Residents may find the daily crime count of 6 incidents useful for contextualising risks, though this figure must be considered alongside the broader demographic and geographic factors that influence Littlehampton's unique crime profile.