Understanding the long-term crime trends in Chichester requires a careful look at available data. Currently, Chichester has a crime rate of 78.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the United Kingdom’s average crime rate of 91.6 per 1,000. Furthermore, Chichester boasts a safety score of 83 out of 100, which is above the UK average of 79, suggesting a generally perceived feeling of safety within the area.
However, the most significant factor to consider is the recent trend. Data indicates an increasing crime trend within Chichester, with a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 6.8%. While a single year’s increase doesn’t necessarily indicate a long-term pattern, it warrants attention and further investigation into the specific types of crimes contributing to this rise. It's important to note that this data reflects incidents reported to the police; the actual level of crime may be higher due to unreported incidents.
With a population of 128,934, the relatively lower crime rate compared to the national average suggests that Chichester remains a reasonably safe place. However, the upward trend needs to be monitored. Further analysis would be required to determine whether this increase is concentrated in specific types of crime (e.g., theft, violent crime) or across a broader spectrum. Understanding the specific types of crime driving this increase is key to developing targeted preventative measures. It is also important to compare this YoY increase to previous years to determine if this is a consistent pattern or an anomaly.