Brighton and Hove Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Brighton and Hove’s crime rate in February 2024 stood at 8.4 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 18.3% above the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects the district’s status as a major urban and tourist hub, where high foot traffic and vibrant nightlife contribute to elevated rates of certain crimes. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 33.0% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (15.7%) and shoplifting (10.0%). These patterns are consistent with Brighton’s character as a coastal city with a significant student population and a bustling retail and entertainment sector. Seasonal factors may also play a role, as February—typically a low point for outdoor activity—saw a pre-spring lull in some crime categories, though others, like anti-social behaviour, remained persistently high. The UK comparison reveals that Brighton’s rate for violence and sexual offences is 12% above the national average, while drug-related crimes are 90% higher, suggesting that localised issues such as substance abuse and nightlife-related disorder may be exacerbating these trends. The area’s crime profile underscores the need for targeted strategies to address specific challenges while maintaining the benefits of its dynamic urban environment.

February 2024 saw significant declines in robbery, with a 48.5% drop from 33 to 17 incidents, and burglary, which fell by 33.8% to 53 cases. These decreases may partly explain the overall rate’s slight reduction from January. However, other categories showed marked increases: anti-social behaviour rose by 7.5% to 373 incidents, while bicycle theft surged by 41.7% to 34 cases. Brighton and Hove’s rate for drug-related crimes was 90% above the UK average, a stark contrast to the 32% reduction in vehicle crime. This divergence highlights the area’s unique challenges, particularly in addressing anti-social behaviour and drug-related offences, which are high compared to national trends. For residents, the drop in robbery incidents is a positive sign, though the rise in anti-social behaviour underscores the need for community-focused policing in high-density areas.

Brighton and Hove’s crime rate in February 2024 fell by 5.2% compared to January, marking a slight decline from the previous month’s rate of 8.9 per 1,000 residents. This reduction aligns with seasonal patterns typical of winter months, when outdoor activity declines and some crime types—such as vehicle crime and burglary—see lower incidence. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 82 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the density of population and the urban nature of the district. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 119 residents, a statistic that contextualises the frequency of incidents within the local population. While this monthly exposure rate is consistent with Brighton’s character as a major coastal city with a mix of urban and tourist-centric areas, it also underscores the need for continued vigilance in high-risk zones. The population-scaled perspective highlights that, despite the overall rate being above the UK average, the drop from January suggests that targeted interventions or seasonal lulls may be contributing to the trend.