East Wittering Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate East Wittering’s crime profile in November 2024, accounting for 41.9% of all reported incidents. This category, at 1.9 per 1,000 residents, sits 26% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. The area’s overall crime rate of 4.5 per 1,000 is 40.8% lower than the UK average of 7.6, reflecting a pattern of consistently lower crime levels compared to national trends. Seasonal factors likely contribute to the current mix: dark evenings and the proximity of Bonfire Night may have heightened opportunities for violent incidents, while Black Friday shopping could have influenced shoplifting rates, though this category remains below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.6 per 1,000, is 46% below the UK average, suggesting a generally low level of disorder in public spaces. The area’s built-up character within Chichester, shaped by its coastal proximity and smaller population size, may create a crime environment distinct from larger urban centres. While property crimes such as shoplifting and vehicle crime remain present, their shares of the total are smaller than in many comparable areas, aligning with the broader trend of lower crime rates in East Wittering.

November 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with vehicle crime, criminal damage, and other crime each rising by 100% compared to October. This increase, though small in absolute terms (one additional incident each), may reflect seasonal factors such as increased vehicle usage during holiday shopping or heightened risk-taking in colder weather. Conversely, anti-social behaviour and public order offences both declined sharply—by 60% and 33.3% respectively—potentially linked to local initiatives or the natural ebb of seasonal activity. Shoplifting, which accounts for 22.6% of all crimes, remains 45% above the UK average of 0.7 per 1,000, highlighting a persistent challenge in retail areas. The area’s violence and sexual offences rate, while lower than the UK average, still constitutes the largest share of reported crimes, indicating a need for targeted community engagement strategies. Residents may find the breakdown of crime types useful for understanding local risks, particularly as shoplifting and vehicle crime could be addressed through improved lighting, CCTV coverage, or community policing efforts.

East Wittering’s crime rate in November 2024 (4.5 per 1,000) represents a 7.0% increase from October’s 4.2 per 1,000, though it remains significantly below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day during the month—a figure that translates to a monthly exposure rate of one crime for every 224 residents. This low frequency contrasts sharply with the UK average, where residents face roughly double the risk. The population-scaled perspective further underscores the area’s relative safety: with 6,948 residents, the 31 total crimes reported equate to a crime rate that is 40.8% below the national benchmark. These figures suggest that East Wittering’s built-up environment, possibly influenced by its coastal location and smaller community size, fosters a crime profile that is both distinct and generally safer than the UK average. While the 7% month-on-month rise may raise questions, the overall context of sustained low crime levels indicates that any increases are likely to be temporary and manageable within the area’s existing policing framework.