Chichester Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Chichester's crime rate in January 2025 stood at 5.8 per 1,000 residents, marking an 18.3% deficit compared to the UK average of 7.1. This places the district among the safer local authority areas in England, though the profile of crime here differs from national trends. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 34.5% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (14.2%) and shoplifting (9.0%). These figures align with Chichester's character as a historic market town with a mix of residential and commercial areas, where retail activity and community interactions shape crime patterns. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with shorter days and reduced footfall in high streets—likely contributes to the relatively low overall rate, though the persistence of violent crime suggests ongoing challenges in community safety. The rate of violence and sexual offences in Chichester is 20% below the UK average, consistent with the town's lower population density and perhaps stronger community cohesion compared to more densely populated urban centres. However, the dominance of violent crime over property crime contrasts with some UK regions where theft and burglary are more prevalent, indicating a unique local dynamic influenced by social factors and local policing strategies.

January 2025 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with robbery incidents surging by 200% from one to three cases—a stark outlier compared to other trends. Bicycle theft also rose sharply, increasing by 83.3% to 11 incidents, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in local cycling infrastructure or security measures. Conversely, drug-related offences fell by 31.6% to 13 cases, possibly reflecting seasonal changes in drug market activity or increased enforcement efforts. The category of 'possession of weapons' rose by 75% to 14 incidents, placing Chichester 67% above the UK average for this category—a significant deviation that warrants attention. Meanwhile, theft from the person dropped by 25%, aligning with the post-holiday lull in retail and public spaces. These shifts highlight a mixed picture: while violent crime remains a concern, certain property-related crimes are declining. Residents may find the 9% UK average excess in public order offences (63 cases) particularly relevant, as this category often reflects issues like anti-social behaviour that can impact local quality of life. The contrast between the sharp rise in weapon possession and the drop in drug offences underscores the complexity of local crime dynamics, with factors such as policing priorities and community engagement likely playing roles.

Chichester's crime rate in January 2025 rose 13.1% compared to December's 5.1 per 1,000, reflecting a seasonal fluctuation typical of post-holiday months. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 24 crimes per day—equivalent to one reported incident for every 173 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure, while relatively low, highlights the persistent nature of crime in a community of 128,934 people. When contextualised against population size, the rate of 5.8 per 1,000 is lower than the UK average, suggesting effective local policing or community resilience factors. However, the 13.1% increase from the previous month indicates that crime trends are not static and may be influenced by factors such as weather patterns or event calendars. For residents, the daily crime figure provides a tangible benchmark: over 24 incidents occur every day, though the distribution across categories remains skewed towards violent and anti-social crimes. This contrasts with UK-wide trends where property crimes often dominate, underscoring Chichester's distinct crime profile shaped by its market town character and local demographics. The comparison to the UK average also reveals that while Chichester is safer overall, specific categories like weapon possession and public order offences require targeted attention to maintain this position.