Castle Point Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For an area of 90,581 residents, Castle Point recorded 503 crimes in May 2023, translating to a crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000 people. This figure sits 30% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, marking one of the lowest rates in the country for this period. The most significant crime category was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 40.4% of all reported crimes (203 incidents), followed by anti-social behaviour (10.7%) and criminal damage and arson (8.6%). These figures align with seasonal patterns typical of May, when longer evenings and bank holidays may partly explain increased socialising and associated incidents. The relatively low levels of property crime (34.2% of total crimes) contrast with the UK average, where property offences typically make up a larger share. This may reflect Castle Point's mix of residential and commercial areas, where community policing initiatives and local engagement efforts could contribute to reduced property crime. The area's crime profile also shows lower rates of public order offences (39% below UK average) and shoplifting (39% below UK average), suggesting effective local strategies to address these issues. However, the presence of violence and sexual offences at a rate 21% below the UK average indicates that while overall crime is lower, targeted interventions may still be necessary in specific high-risk contexts.

May 2023 saw distinct shifts in crime patterns compared to April, with shoplifting increasing by 57.9% (19 to 30 incidents) and drug-related offences rising by 57.1% (7 to 11). These increases may reflect seasonal dynamics, such as the timing of bank holidays and extended daylight hours encouraging outdoor activity. Conversely, robbery incidents fell by 33.3% (9 to 6), and public order offences dropped by 24% (50 to 38), possibly linked to targeted enforcement during the month. The breakdown of crime types reveals that Castle Point's violent crime rate (2.2 per 1,000) is 21% below the UK average, while anti-social behaviour (0.6 per 1,000) is 55% below the national figure. The rate of 'other crime' (0.2 per 1,000) is 43% above the UK average, suggesting a need for further investigation into the nature of these incidents. For residents, the sharp rise in shoplifting highlights the importance of local retail security measures, while the drop in robbery rates may indicate effective police presence or community awareness initiatives. The relatively low levels of vehicle crime (0.4 per 1,000, 11% below UK average) could be attributed to Castle Point's infrastructure, which may include secure parking facilities or limited high-traffic commercial zones.

Castle Point's crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000 in May 2023 represents a 4.0% decrease from April's rate of 5.8 per 1,000, indicating a slight downward trend. Translating this into daily context, the area experienced approximately 16 crimes per day during the month, a figure that may help residents gauge the frequency of incidents in their daily lives. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 180 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. With a population of 90,581, the 503 total crimes recorded equate to a rate that is 30% below the national average, suggesting Castle Point's overall safety profile is stronger than most areas. This comparative advantage is evident across multiple crime categories, with anti-social behaviour and public order offences both showing marked reductions relative to UK averages. However, the 43% above-average rate for 'other crime' and the 35% below-average burglary rate highlight the need for nuanced analysis of specific offence types. For context, the daily crime count of 16 per day is lower than the UK average of approximately 23 per day (based on 2022 data), reinforcing Castle Point's position as a relatively safe area within the broader UK context.