Littlehampton Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Littlehampton, 11.3 crimes were reported in September 2025—52.7% above the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This translates to a daily risk of roughly 7 crimes in the built-up area, with one in every 88 residents experiencing a reported incident over the course of the month. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 30.5% of all incidents, followed by shoplifting (21.9%) and anti-social behaviour (15.2%). These patterns align with seasonal rhythms: as September marks the return of students to local universities and the start of the school term, increased foot traffic in retail and nightlife areas likely contributes to higher rates of property crimes and violent incidents. The sharp rise in shoplifting—310% above the UK average—suggests targeted retail areas may be experiencing pressure from opportunistic theft, possibly linked to the influx of students and visitors. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour remains a persistent concern, with rates 45% above the national average, reflecting the social dynamics of a mixed-use urban area. The seasonal transition, with shorter evenings and the onset of colder weather, may also influence outdoor criminal activity. Residents should remain vigilant, particularly in high-traffic zones, as the local crime profile continues to show marked disparities compared to the UK average.

September 2025 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with drug-related offences surging by 500% (from 1 to 6 incidents), marking the most significant increase recorded this year. This jump may reflect heightened activity during the university freshers' week. Other thefts also rose sharply, increasing by 137.5% (from 8 to 19), a trend consistent with the heightened retail activity associated with the start of the academic term. Conversely, robbery incidents fell by 60% (from 5 to 2), possibly due to increased police presence or changes in criminal behaviour during the month. Public order offences, at 0.5 per 1,000, were 7% below the UK average, suggesting that local authorities may have successfully mitigated disturbances in public spaces. Shoplifting remained high, with rates 310% above the national average—over five times the UK level. This stark disparity may indicate specific vulnerabilities in Littlehampton’s retail environment, such as poorly monitored high streets or inadequate security measures in local stores. For residents, the most immediate concern remains violence and sexual offences, which accounted for over a third of all reported crimes. These incidents, at 3.5 per 1,000 (30.5% of total), were 36% above the UK average, highlighting the need for targeted community initiatives to address underlying social tensions.

Littlehampton’s crime rate in September 2025 rose by 11.6% compared to the previous month, increasing from 10.2 to 11.3 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend contrasts with the UK average, which has remained relatively stable. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 7 crimes per day—roughly one in every 13 residents encountering an incident weekly. Over the course of the month, this translates to one reported crime for every 88 residents, a figure that underscores the frequency of criminal activity in a relatively small population. When compared to the UK average, Littlehampton’s violent crime rate (3.5 per 1,000) and shoplifting rate (2.5 per 1,000) stand out as particularly high, with the former being 36% above and the latter 310% above the national average. This disparity may reflect the unique characteristics of Littlehampton as a built-up area within Arun, where a combination of urban density and seasonal influxes of students and visitors could create conditions conducive to certain types of crime. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the risk of encountering a crime is significantly higher here than in the UK as a whole, with property crimes and violent incidents forming the bulk of the local crime picture. While some categories, like public order offences, performed slightly better than the UK average, the overall profile remains one of elevated risk compared to national benchmarks.