Rural Arun Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Rural Arun's crime rate in May 2024 stood at 6.5 per 1,000 residents, marking a 22.6% deficit compared to the UK average of 8.4. This figure places the area among the safer built-up regions in Arun, though the local context reveals a nuanced picture. Anti-social behaviour accounted for 25.7% of all recorded crimes, followed by violence and sexual offences (24.3%) and other theft (18.9%). These patterns align with the area's character as a low-density built-up zone within a rural district, where community policing and limited commercial activity may contribute to lower violent crime rates. Seasonal factors in May—such as longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising during bank holidays—appear consistent with the rise in anti-social behaviour and public order offences. However, the overall crime rate remains significantly below the UK average, suggesting effective local crime prevention measures or demographic characteristics that reduce exposure to high-risk environments. The relatively low rates of burglary (0.1 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) further reinforce the area's status as a safer place compared to national benchmarks, though the sharp increase in criminal damage and arson warrants closer examination in subsequent reports.

May 2024 saw a 12.0% month-on-month increase in the overall crime rate, rising from 5.8 to 6.5 per 1,000 residents. This uptick was driven by a 200% surge in criminal damage and arson, which rose from 3 to 9 incidents. Concurrently, drugs-related offences doubled from 1 to 2 cases, and public order offences increased by 60% (5 to 8). These trends contrast sharply with significant declines in vehicle crime (-80%, from 10 to 2) and burglary (-66.7%, from 3 to 1). The crime mix reveals a notable shift: while violent crimes (18 cases) remained stable, property crimes (27 cases) now constitute 60% of all recorded offences, compared to 50% in the previous month. Anti-social behaviour, though still the most common category, is 17% above the UK average (1.7 vs 1.4 per 1,000), while other theft is 107% above the national rate (1.2 vs 0.6 per 1,000). Residents should note that the 200% rise in criminal damage and arson may reflect increased outdoor activity during May's longer evenings, though no definitive causal link can be established without further data.

Rural Arun's crime rate in May 2024 (6.5 per 1,000) represented a 12.0% increase from the previous month's 5.8 per 1,000, yet the area remains 22.6% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the 74 total crimes recorded over 31 days equate to approximately 2 crimes per day—a figure that, while seemingly low, underscores the need for vigilance in specific areas. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 153 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is considerably lower than many urban centres. However, this statistic must be contextualised within the area's population scale: with 11,324 residents, the 74 crimes represent a manageable volume relative to the community's size. The 22.6% deficit compared to the UK average suggests that factors such as lower population density, limited commercial activity, and strong community policing may be contributing to the area's relative safety. That said, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson—now 29% above the UK average—highlights a vulnerability in specific categories that requires targeted attention in future reporting.