East Wittering Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

East Wittering's crime profile in August 2024 demonstrates a marked divergence from the UK average, with a crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents—40.2% lower than the national figure of 8.2. This disparity underscores the area's unique position as a built-up coastal community within Chichester, where the interplay of tourism, seasonal patterns, and local demographics likely contributes to its consistently lower crime rates. The breakdown of incidents reveals that violence and sexual offences accounted for 29.4% of all crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour at 20.6% and criminal damage and arson at 17.7%. These figures contrast sharply with the UK averages for these categories, particularly in the case of violence and sexual offences, which are 48% below the national rate. The seasonal context of August, a peak holiday month, may have influenced crime patterns, with empty homes potentially increasing burglary risk but also with increased community presence acting as a deterrent. The area's property crime rate—12 incidents—was balanced by a relatively high proportion of violent crimes, a dynamic that may reflect the town's proximity to recreational areas and the transient nature of some residents during the summer. While the overall crime rate remains well below the UK average, the presence of criminal damage and arson at 0.9 per 1,000—45% above the UK average—highlights a specific vulnerability that warrants attention. This anomaly may be linked to the area's coastal environment, where vandalism is occasionally reported during periods of high wind or storm activity. The data also reveals a mixed picture in other categories: shoplifting, for instance, was 58% below the UK average, likely due to the relatively small retail footprint in East Wittering compared to larger urban centres. However, other crime types such as drugs and other crime showed rates 36% and 87% above the UK average, respectively, indicating areas where targeted interventions might be necessary. Overall, the August 2024 data reinforces East Wittering's position as a low-crime area within a broader context of national trends, with its specific challenges and strengths shaped by its geographic and social characteristics.

August 2024 saw a 100% increase in bicycle theft compared to the previous month, marking the first recorded incident of this type in the area. This spike, though limited to a single case, may reflect increased cycling activity during the summer months or heightened awareness leading to more reports. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson rose by 20%, a trend that contrasts with the 48% reduction in violence and sexual offences, which fell to 1.4 per 1,000 residents—well below the UK average of 2.7. Anti-social behaviour also remained low, at 1.0 per 1,000, 31% below the UK average. The most significant month-on-month decline was in public order offences, which dropped by two-thirds to one incident in August. Residents may find the 50% reduction in shoplifting, from four to two incidents, particularly reassuring, as this category has historically shown volatility during peak tourist periods.

East Wittering's crime rate in August 2024 fell to 4.9 per 1,000 residents, a 30.6% drop from the previous month's rate of 7.1. This decline aligns with the area's consistently lower-than-average crime profile, which has remained 40.2% below the UK average since data collection began. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately one crime reported per day in August, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 204 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, which typically sees a higher frequency of incidents per capita. The population-scaled perspective reinforces the area's status as one of the safer built-up areas within Chichester, where crime trends have historically shown resilience against seasonal fluctuations. This stability may reflect the community's compact size and the relatively low density of commercial or residential properties that could otherwise attract higher crime rates.