Chichester Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Chichester’s crime rate in July 2023 remained exactly aligned with the UK average at 8.3 per 1,000 residents, reflecting a balance between local trends and national patterns. Violence and sexual offences accounted for the largest share of total crimes (32.5%), followed by anti-social behaviour (14.0%) and other theft (10.2%). This distribution contrasts with the UK average, where violence typically constitutes a slightly smaller proportion, while anti-social behaviour is more prevalent. The summer months in Chichester, characterised by tourism peaks, festivals, and school holidays, likely contribute to the elevated levels of certain crimes. For instance, the surge in vehicle crime and bicycle theft may be linked to increased motorist and cyclist activity, while anti-social behaviour’s lower-than-average rate could reflect the area’s relatively quiet character outside of peak tourist times. Despite the overall rate matching the UK average, specific categories like other theft (36% above the UK average) and criminal damage (25% above) indicate localised challenges that may require targeted interventions. These patterns are consistent with Chichester’s role as a historic market town with a mix of residential and tourist areas, where seasonal fluctuations in population and activity levels influence crime dynamics.

July 2023 saw dramatic increases in vehicle crime, other theft, and bicycle theft—each rising by over 160% compared to June. These spikes, particularly in vehicle-related offences, may partly explain the overall rate’s jump to 8.3 per 1,000. While violence and sexual offences remained the most common category (32.5% of total crimes), they were 3% below the UK average. Conversely, other theft (10.2% of total crimes) was 36% above the UK average, highlighting a localised imbalance in property crime trends. Residents may find the 34 daily crimes figure useful for understanding the pace of incidents. Anti-social behaviour (14.0% of total crimes) was 15% below the UK average, reflecting the area’s relatively low levels of disruptive activity compared to other regions. The sharp rise in bicycle theft—linked to summer cycling activity—suggests a need for targeted security measures in areas with high foot traffic.

Chichester's crime rate in July 2023 rose sharply from 5.6 to 8.3 per 1,000 residents, marking a 48.9% increase compared to the previous month. This surge is evident in daily crime figures, with an average of 34 crimes reported each day over the 31-day period. When contextualised by population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 121 residents over the course of the month—a figure that underscores the heightened activity compared to June. The jump in crime appears to align with seasonal patterns typical of July, when tourism peaks and local festivals draw larger crowds to the area. While the overall rate matches the UK average, the rapid month-on-month rise contrasts with the previous month’s lower figures, suggesting a temporary spike influenced by transient factors such as increased foot traffic or event-related disruptions. This monthly exposure metric provides a tangible measure for residents to gauge the frequency of crime in their community relative to population size.