East Wittering Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

East Wittering’s crime rate of 2.5 per 1,000 residents in January 2024 was 66.2% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, marking one of the lowest rates in the country. The area’s crime profile shows a clear focus on violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 41.2% of all reported crimes. This category, at 1.0 per 1,000, was 62% below the UK average for the same category, reflecting a significant divergence from national trends. Public order offences (0.3 per 1,000) and criminal damage (0.3 per 1,000) followed, both below their respective UK averages. The low overall rate aligns with January’s seasonal context: post-holiday periods, reduced retail footfall, and shorter daylight hours typically dampen outdoor activity, which may contribute to lower rates of crimes like burglary and vehicle theft. However, the prominence of violence and sexual offences suggests local factors—such as the area’s proximity to Chichester’s urban centre or its seasonal population shifts—could play a role. These patterns contrast with the UK’s broader trend of property crimes dominating crime statistics, highlighting East Wittering’s unique characteristics. The data also underscores the area’s relative safety, particularly in categories like shoplifting and theft, where rates are significantly below national benchmarks. This combination of low overall crime and specific categories standing out offers a nuanced view of the area’s security landscape.

January 2024 saw a 100% increase in shoplifting compared to December, with two incidents reported—up from zero in the previous month. This jump, though small in absolute terms, contrasts with the broader trend of declining crime rates. Violence and sexual offences rose by 40% (from five to seven cases), though their rate (1.0 per 1,000) remained 62% below the UK average. Other theft fell by 50% (from two to one case), reflecting a notable reduction in this category. The breakdown of crimes reveals a marked imbalance: violence and sexual offences constituted over 40% of all incidents, a share significantly higher than the UK average of 35% for the same category. This dominance of violent crime, despite the overall low rate, suggests localized factors—such as seasonal patterns or community dynamics—may be influencing the area. For residents, the 100% increase in shoplifting provides a concrete example of how crime trends can shift rapidly, even within a low-crime environment. The data also highlights the area’s stark underperformance compared to the UK in categories like public order and criminal damage, where rates are 38% and 47% below national averages, respectively. These figures, while seemingly minor, illustrate the area’s distinct position in the UK crime profile.

East Wittering’s crime rate in January 2024 (2.5 per 1,000) marked a 5.4% decrease from December’s 2.6 per 1,000, reflecting a slight but consistent downward trend. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 409 residents, a figure that underscores the area’s relative safety compared to national averages. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day, a localised metric that highlights the manageable scale of incidents. When contextualised against the UK’s average rate of 7.4 per 1,000, East Wittering’s performance is striking: it recorded fewer crimes than the UK average in every major category, from shoplifting (47% below) to burglary (72% below). This suggests the area’s unique demographic or geographic factors—such as its coastal location or small population—may act as natural deterrents to crime. The low rate also means residents face a significantly lower risk of being directly affected by crime compared to the UK average. For example, the 1-in-409 monthly exposure figure is far more favourable than the UK’s estimated 1-in-135 for similar rates. These comparisons reinforce East Wittering’s position as a low-crime area, even as specific categories like violence and sexual offences remain a notable focus for local authorities and residents alike.