Rustington Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Rustington’s crime rate of 3.6 per 1,000 residents in February 2025 stands 46.3% below the UK average of 6.7, marking one of the lowest rates in the country for this built-up area within Arun. This stark deviation from national trends suggests a combination of local factors, including the area’s relatively low population density and potentially effective community policing strategies. The crime profile reveals a distinct pattern: violence and sexual offences (25.8% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (22.0%) dominate, followed by shoplifting (15.2%). These figures contrast with the UK averages for similar categories, where violence and sexual offences occur at 2.4 per 1,000 (62% below Rustington’s rate) and anti-social behaviour at 1.0 per 1,000 (18% below). The seasonal context of February—a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may partly explain the lower rates of property crimes, such as vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000, 46% below UK average) and burglary (0.2 per 1,000, 26% below UK average). However, the persistence of violence and anti-social behaviour suggests ongoing challenges in managing community tensions, exacerbated by local social dynamics or environmental factors. While the area’s crime rate remains well below the national average, the prominence of violent crime highlights the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas, such as public spaces or residential zones with known incidents.

February 2025 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with increases in 'other crime' (+100%), robbery (+100%), and drugs (+100%), while public order offences fell by 57.1% and vehicle crime dropped by 38.5%. These changes indicate a combination of seasonal factors and localized pressures. The category of 'other crime'—which includes a range of non-specific incidents—jumped from 2 to 4, suggesting either a temporary uptick in unclassified reports or a shift in police categorization. The rise in robbery, from 0 to 1, is particularly striking in an area where such crimes typically occur at 0.1 per 1,000 (100% below the UK average). This anomaly could reflect isolated incidents or a shift in criminal activity patterns during the winter months. Conversely, the 57.1% decline in public order offences—from 7 to 3—may be linked to reduced outdoor gatherings during colder weather or increased community engagement in local initiatives. The UK comparison data reveals further contrasts: while Rustington’s shoplifting rate (0.5 per 1,000) is 19% below the national average, bicycle theft (0.1 per 1,000) exceeds the UK average (0.1 per 1,000) by 100%, a discrepancy that could be attributed to the area’s proximity to cycling infrastructure or unsecured bike storage. For residents, the most immediately relevant insight is the 100% increase in 'other crime' reports, which may warrant closer attention to unclassified incidents and their potential underlying causes.

Rustington’s crime rate rose by 7.2% in February 2025 compared to the previous month’s rate of 3.3 per 1,000, marking a slight upward trend despite remaining well below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 5 crimes per day in February, a figure that translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 281 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate provides context for residents, showing that while the likelihood of experiencing a crime is low, the absolute number of incidents is not negligible. When scaled to the area’s population of 37,057, the 132 total crimes recorded in February represent a manageable proportion of the community, though the persistence of violent crime—particularly in the violence and sexual offences category—remains a concern. The comparison to the UK average underscores Rustington’s relative safety, but the local data also highlights specific vulnerabilities, such as the 100% above-average rate of bicycle theft. For a built-up area within Arun, these figures suggest a balance between effective crime prevention measures and the need for targeted interventions in high-risk categories. The 7.2% increase from January to February, though modest, may reflect seasonal shifts, such as the return of regular commuters or the start of school terms, which could influence local crime dynamics.