Chichester Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

A dramatic 375% surge in drug-related crimes in June 2023 stands out as the most striking anomaly in Chichester’s crime profile. This spike, from 4 to 19 incidents, contrasts sharply with the overall crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000 residents—34.1% below the UK average of 8.5 per 1,000. While violence and sexual offences remain the most prevalent category (253 cases, 35.3% of total crimes), the sharp increase in drug-related activity defies seasonal expectations. June, typically a low-crime month in coastal areas due to tourism-driven policing and extended daylight, saw this unexpected rise, which may partly reflect heightened social interactions or unmet demand during the early summer. Anti-social behaviour (122 cases) and public order offences (72 cases) also dominate the landscape, consistent with Chichester’s character as a historic market town with active nightlife and retail sectors. The data shows a clear property-crime-to-violent-crime ratio of 0.88:1, suggesting a balance between urban and rural dynamics. However, the drug crime surge disrupts this pattern, raising questions about local factors that could be influencing this trend during the summer season.

The 375% increase in drug-related crimes from 4 to 19 cases in June 2023 is the most significant month-on-month change, far exceeding the 300% rise in robbery and 183.3% jump in 'other crime' categories. This spike, occurring alongside a 32% deficit in violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average, highlights an unusual divergence in Chichester’s crime mix. Meanwhile, other thefts fell by 36.1% (61 to 39 cases), and vehicle crime dropped 27.8% (36 to 26 cases), potentially reflecting seasonal shifts in behaviour or effective local interventions. The 100% reduction in theft from the person (from 3 to 2 cases) is a rare positive outlier, though such low numbers make statistical significance difficult to assess. These changes underscore a combination of resident activity, tourism patterns, and local enforcement efforts. The 54% deficit in other thefts compared to the UK average suggests Chichester’s property crime profile is markedly different from national trends, possibly due to its unique mix of historic architecture and modern retail spaces.

Chichester’s crime rate in June 2023 (5.6 per 1,000) was stable compared to the previous month’s 5.7 per 1,000, indicating no major directional shift. Over 30 days, this translates to an average of 24 crimes reported daily—a figure that, while seemingly high, is contextually low for a town of 128,934 residents. The monthly exposure metric reveals that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 180 residents, a rate that is 34.1% below the UK average. This statistic, when scaled to individual experience, means a resident has a 1-in-180 chance of being directly affected by crime during the month. The previous month’s rate was nearly identical, suggesting consistent policing effectiveness or stable community dynamics. Daily crime counts, while not directly comparable to UK-wide figures, align with Chichester’s character as a relatively safe urban area with strong community engagement. The combination of low property crime rates and higher violent crime incidence compared to the UK average reflects a unique balance shaped by its historic infrastructure, active social scene, and coastal tourism economy.