East Wittering Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

East Wittering’s crime rate in October 2024 stood at 4.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 48.1% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This stark contrast reflects the area’s relatively low crime profile, a pattern consistent with its status as a built-up area within Chichester, likely characterised by a mix of residential and commercial spaces with limited high-density populations. The top three crime categories were anti-social behaviour (34.5% of total incidents), violence and sexual offences (27.6%), and shoplifting (17.2%), illustrating a focus on community-related and retail-driven issues. Seasonal factors in October—such as the transition to darker evenings and the timing of Halloween—likely influenced patterns, potentially increasing opportunities for anti-social behaviour while reducing outdoor activity that might otherwise contribute to violent crimes. The area’s violence and sexual offences rate (1.2 per 1,000) is 55% below the UK average, a statistic that may align with the town’s smaller population and lower levels of nightlife activity compared to larger urban centres. However, the 9% above-average rate for anti-social behaviour suggests challenges in managing community interactions, particularly in areas with high foot traffic or during events that draw crowds. The overall low crime rate, combined with these nuanced variations, illustrates a place where crime prevention efforts appear to have a measurable impact, though targeted interventions may still be needed to address specific categories like anti-social behaviour.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift occurred in drug-related offences, which jumped from zero to one incident—a 100% increase. This spike, though small in absolute terms, signals a notable anomaly in an area where such crimes were previously absent. Concurrently, violence and sexual offences fell by 46.7%, from 15 to 8 incidents, a decline that may reflect seasonal factors such as shorter evenings and Halloween-related activities reducing opportunities for such crimes. Anti-social behaviour also rose sharply by 42.9%, driven by a jump from seven to 10 incidents, potentially linked to increased foot traffic during October’s darker evenings. The area’s anti-social behaviour rate of 1.4 per 1,000 residents is 9% above the UK average, highlighting a specific local challenge. Meanwhile, shoplifting fell by 16.7%, and criminal damage dropped by two-thirds, indicating a shift in crime mix toward public order and anti-social incidents.

East Wittering's crime rate in October 2024 dropped to 4.2 per 1,000 residents, a 17.3% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.0 per 1,000. This decline brings the area’s monthly exposure to one reported crime for every 240 residents, a figure that contextualises the low frequency of incidents in a population of nearly 7,000. Locally, the daily crime count averaged just one incident per day over the 31-day period, a statistic that underscores the relatively quiet nature of this built-up area within Chichester. While the overall rate remains 48.1% below the UK average, the drop in violent crime—particularly a 46.7% reduction in violence and sexual offences—contrasts with a 42.9% rise in anti-social behaviour, suggesting shifting patterns in community interactions. The population-scaled perspective reveals that East Wittering’s residents face a crime risk significantly lower than the national average, though localised fluctuations in specific categories warrant attention.