Rustington Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Rustington's crime rate in September 2025 stood at 3.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 48.6% below the UK average of 7.4. This performance positions the area as significantly safer than the national picture. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 31.7% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (19.0%) and shoplifting (15.5%). These figures align with the area's character as a built-up community with a mix of residential and commercial spaces, where interpersonal conflicts and retail-related crimes are more prevalent than property crimes. Seasonal context suggests that September's crime profile may reflect the transition from summer to autumn, with back-to-school activity and university freshers potentially influencing anti-social behaviour and public order incidents. While the overall rate remains low, the prominence of violence and sexual offences highlights areas for targeted community engagement. Shoplifting rates in Rustington (0.6 per 1,000) are nearly aligned with the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), suggesting that retail environments in the area are neither uniquely vulnerable nor protected compared to national benchmarks. This balance between local and national trends underscores the need for ongoing analysis of specific micro-environments within the built-up area.

September 2025 saw notable month-on-month shifts in Rustington's crime profile. Bicycle theft surged by 300%, rising from 1 to 4 incidents, a figure that may reflect increased cycling activity as schools and universities resumed operations. Robbery rates also doubled, with 6 reported incidents compared to 3 in August, potentially linked to heightened foot traffic in commercial zones. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 77.3%, dropping from 22 to 5 incidents—a decline consistent with the seasonal slowdown in outdoor activities. The most striking contrast to national averages appears in robbery and possession of weapons, where Rustington's rates were 100% and 43% above UK figures, respectively. These anomalies may indicate localized vulnerabilities, such as specific high-traffic areas or unaddressed security gaps. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour halved from 54 to 27 incidents, a reduction that could be attributed to the easing of summer crowds and the return to structured routines following the academic calendar. For residents, the most immediate concern remains the spike in bicycle theft, which suggests a need for enhanced bike storage solutions in key locations.

Rustington's crime rate in September 2025 (3.8 per 1,000) marked a 26.1% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.2, reflecting a sustained downward trend. This reduction translates to roughly 5 crimes reported per day across the built-up area, a figure that contextualizes the monthly exposure as one reported crime for every 261 residents. When viewed through the lens of population size (37,057 residents), the area's performance demonstrates a marked divergence from the UK average, with crime levels nearly half those of the national statistic. This disparity is particularly pronounced in categories like anti-social behaviour (40% below UK average) and criminal damage (81% below UK average), suggesting that Rustington's community dynamics may foster lower levels of disorder compared to other regions. However, the area's elevated rates in robbery (100% above UK average) and possession of weapons (43% above UK average) highlight specific challenges that require targeted interventions. For a resident, the 1-in-261 monthly exposure figure provides a tangible benchmark for understanding personal risk, while the overall trend of declining crime rates offers reassurance that local efforts may be yielding positive results.