Rustington Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Rustington’s crime profile in December 2025, accounting for 36.7% of all reported crimes. This category alone contributes to a crime rate of 1.2 per 1,000 residents, 53% below the UK average for this category. The overall crime rate of 3.2 per 1,000 residents—54.3% lower than the UK average of 7.0—reflects a consistently safer environment compared to national trends. Shoplifting follows as the second most common crime, making up 19.2% of total reports.6 per 1,000 is 5% above the UK average. The seasonal context of December—marked by Christmas shopping, party season, and extended evenings—likely contributes to patterns observed. While shoplifting may partly reflect increased retail activity, the low levels of property crime (46 total) suggest effective local deterrents or a lack of high-risk areas. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences, though lower than UK averages, show a notable shift in December, with public order crimes rising by 140% month-on-month. This spike may align with the area’s seasonal rhythms, where community events or increased social gatherings could influence reported incidents. The dominance of violent crimes, however, contrasts with the UK’s broader focus on property-related offences, hinting at a unique local dynamic that warrants closer analysis.

December 2025 saw a 130% increase in shoplifting, rising from 10 to 23 incidents. This surge, while still below the UK average for the category, may reflect heightened retail activity during the Christmas season. Public order offences also jumped by 140%, from 5 to 12, potentially linked to late-night gatherings or holiday-related disturbances. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 66.7%, dropping from 15 to 5, due to fewer cars on the road during the holiday period or reduced opportunistic theft. The drugs category also decreased by 50%, from 6 to 3, though this remains a relatively minor component of the crime picture. Anti-social behaviour halved, declining from 24 to 12, which could indicate effective local interventions or seasonal factors reducing public interactions. Violence and sexual offences—now the most common category—remain 53% below the UK average, suggesting that Rustington’s community may have robust mechanisms for addressing interpersonal conflicts. The sharp rise in possession of weapons, doubling from 0 to 3 incidents, is a small but concerning shift that may warrant further investigation into local factors.

Rustington’s crime rate in December 2025 stood at 3.2 per 1,000 residents, a 3.3% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 3.4. This slight decline aligns with the broader trend of lower crime rates observed in the area over recent months. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 4 crimes per day in December, a figure that may seem high but is contextualised by the town’s population of 37,057. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 309 residents, a monthly exposure rate that remains significantly lower than the UK average. This statistic underscores Rustington’s relatively safe environment, even as specific categories like public order offences show spikes. When compared to the UK average, Rustington’s performance in categories such as anti-social behaviour (68% below) and criminal damage (62% below) highlights a community that may benefit from strong local policing or social cohesion. However, the 5% increase in shoplifting above the UK average serves as a reminder that no area is entirely immune to seasonal pressures. For residents, the daily crime count of 4 provides a tangible benchmark for understanding local risk, while the overall rate’s continued divergence from the UK average reinforces the area’s unique position in the national crime profile.