Thundersley and South Benfleet Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Thundersley and South Benfleet, a built-up area within Castle Point, recorded a crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 residents in November 2023, 36% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This figure underscores the area’s relative safety despite the modest 5.5% month-on-month increase from October. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 41% of all incidents (95 cases), a category that remains 23% below the UK average. This suggests that while localised factors may contribute to violent crime, the area’s overall profile is less prone to such incidents compared to the national trend. Vehicle crime, at 0.8 per 1,000 residents, stands out as 60% above the UK average, likely reflecting the area’s built-up nature and potential challenges with parking infrastructure. This disparity highlights the importance of contextualising crime rates within local conditions rather than relying solely on national benchmarks. Seasonal factors such as Black Friday shopping and Bonfire Night appear to have played a role in elevating certain crime types, particularly shoplifting and public order offences. The area’s proximity to major transport links may also influence crime patterns, as these hubs often attract higher foot traffic during peak retail periods. Despite these fluctuations, the overall crime rate remains significantly lower than the UK average, indicating that the area’s built-up character and community dynamics contribute to a relatively stable crime environment. This stability is further reinforced by the fact that categories such as anti-social behaviour and burglary are below national averages, suggesting that local initiatives or demographic characteristics may be effective in mitigating certain types of criminal activity.

November 2023 saw a 100% increase in robbery cases, with one incident reported compared to zero in October. This sharp rise, though still low in absolute terms, warrants attention, particularly given the seasonal context of dark evenings and Bonfire Night. Concurrently, drug-related crimes rose by 50%, from two to three incidents, suggesting a potential shift in local criminal activity patterns. Shoplifting also increased by 37.5%, with 22 incidents recorded in November compared to 16 in October. This surge aligns with the timing of Black Friday shopping, which often drives retail crime. Vehicle crime in the area remains 60% above the UK average, at 0.8 per 1,000 residents, a figure that could be linked to the area’s built-up nature and potential parking challenges. In contrast, bicycle theft fell by 75%, from four to one incident, possibly reflecting seasonal changes in cycling activity or increased security measures. The breakdown of crimes reveals that violence and sexual offences accounted for 41% of all incidents, a figure that may be influenced by the area’s proximity to major transport links and the associated foot traffic during peak shopping periods. Anti-social behaviour incidents decreased by 30.8%, from 26 to 18, a decline that could be attributed to increased community engagement or local initiatives during the month.

The crime rate in Thundersley and South Benfleet rose by 5.5% in November 2023 compared to 4.6 per 1,000 residents in October, reaching 4.8 per 1,000. While this increase is modest, it reflects the area’s sensitivity to seasonal events such as Black Friday shopping and Bonfire Night, which often correlate with spikes in retail and public order crimes. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 8 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the frequency of incidents within a local framework. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 208 residents, a statistic that illustrates the scale of crime relative to the population. With a population of 48,269, this monthly exposure highlights the relative safety of the area compared to national benchmarks. increase suggests that local factors—such as the timing of Black Friday shopping and Bonfire Night—may contribute to fluctuations. The population size also means that individual incidents, while concerning, do not overwhelm the community as they might in more densely populated regions. This context is critical for understanding how local crime trends align with broader national patterns, particularly given the area’s built-up nature and proximity to transport links that could influence foot traffic and retail dynamics.