Chichester Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a town of 128,934 residents, Chichester recorded 731 crimes in May 2023, translating to 5.7 crimes per 1,000 people—a rate 28.7% below the UK average. This figure contextualises the volume of incidents in a coastal town with a mix of urban and suburban characteristics, where seasonal factors like longer evenings and bank holidays may influence crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 33.4% of all crimes, the largest single category, with 244 incidents reported. This rate (1.9 per 1,000) is 32% below the UK average for the category, suggesting a combination of local policing efforts and community dynamics. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 17.5% of total crimes. month-on-month increase raises questions about underlying trends. The town's low burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) and minimal drug-related crimes (0.0 per 1,000) contrast with UK averages, potentially reflecting Chichester's quieter residential character and effective community engagement. Seasonal context—such as increased outdoor socialising during longer evenings—may partly explain fluctuations in public order offences and anti-social behaviour. Overall, the crime profile illustrates a town where violent crimes dominate but remain significantly below national levels, with property crimes and public disorder showing mixed trends influenced by both local and broader environmental factors.

May 2023 saw a 70.7% surge in anti-social behaviour, rising from 75 to 128 incidents. This jump, while notable, remains 25% below the UK average for the category. Concurrently, shoplifting increased by 12.5% to 72 cases, slightly above the UK rate (0.5 per 1,000) but still a small proportion of total crimes (9.9%). Criminal damage and arson also rose by 12.1%, reflecting potential seasonal factors like longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising. In contrast, drug-related crimes fell by 73.3% to four incidents, a stark reduction that may be linked to targeted enforcement or seasonal shifts in activity. Burglary dropped by 47.3% to 29 cases, suggesting continued effectiveness in property crime prevention. These divergent trends highlight the complexity of local crime dynamics, with some categories aligning with UK averages while others deviate significantly.

Chichester's crime rate in May 2023 remained stable at 5.8 per 1,000 residents compared to the previous month, reflecting a -1.7% decrease. This consistency suggests no significant shift in overall crime patterns despite seasonal factors. On a daily basis, 24 crimes were reported in May, a figure that contextualises the pace of activity in a town with 128,934 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 176 residents, a metric that highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents in this area. When scaled to population size, Chichester's crime rate remains lower than the UK average, with 28.7% fewer crimes per 1,000 people. This population-scaled perspective underscores the area's comparative safety, though local variations in crime distribution—such as the rise in anti-social behaviour—warrant attention. The stability in overall rates contrasts with specific category trends, illustrating how broader patterns can mask more granular changes.