Selsey Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Selsey, 6.1 crimes were reported in May 2023—23.8% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This translates to roughly one crime for every 165 residents over the course of the month, a figure that contextualises risk in everyday terms. The crime profile shows a clear skew towards violent and anti-social incidents: 32 of the 66 total crimes (48.5%) were violence and sexual offences, the highest category. Anti-social behaviour followed with 15 incidents (22.7%), while public order offences made up 9.1% (6 cases). These patterns align with seasonal factors; May’s longer evenings and bank holidays likely contributed to increased socialising in public spaces, which may partly explain the elevated rates of violence and disorder. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.8 per 1,000, but Selsey’s rate of 2.9 per 1,000 is 4% higher, suggesting local factors—such as the area’s proximity to Chichester’s town centre or transient populations—could play a role. Meanwhile, property crimes remained low, with only 10 incidents (15.2% of total), well below the UK average for theft and burglary categories. The coastal location of Selsey may reduce opportunities for vehicle crime and burglary compared to more densely populated urban areas, though this remains a hypothesis requiring further data. This month’s figures illustrate how seasonal rhythms and local geography interact to shape crime patterns, even within a relatively low-risk area.

May 2023 saw dramatic shifts in crime trends for Selsey. Anti-social behaviour surged by 275% compared to April, jumping from 4 to 15 incidents—a stark contrast to the previous month’s levels. This spike may reflect the impact of May’s bank holidays and extended daylight hours, which could have increased public gatherings and associated disorder. Similarly, other theft rose by 150% (2 to 5 cases), though this remains a small absolute number. On the other hand, burglary dropped by 75% (from 4 to 1 incident), linked to seasonal factors such as fewer people being away on holiday during the summer months. The mix of crime types also shifted: while violent crimes decreased by 17.9% (from 39 to 32), they remained 4% above the UK average, highlighting Selsey’s distinct profile compared to national trends. Possession of weapons saw an 186% increase above the UK average, with 2 cases (0.2 per 1,000) compared to the national rate of 0.1 per 1,000. For residents, the daily crime count of 2 incidents per day offers a tangible measure of risk, though this remains a low figure by UK standards. These fluctuations demonstrate how specific local conditions—such as community dynamics or enforcement efforts—can influence crime patterns even within a broadly stable overall rate.

Selsey’s crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 in May 2023 remained stable compared to the previous month, matching the same figure from April. This consistency suggests no major short-term disruptions in local crime trends. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day—a figure that provides residents with a concrete sense of how often incidents occur in their immediate environment. When scaled to the population, this equates to one reported crime for every 165 residents over the course of the month. While this may seem high in absolute terms, it is important to contextualise it against the UK average: Selsey’s rate is 23.8% lower than the national figure of 8.0 per 1,000. This disparity reflects the area’s character as a relatively small, coastal built-up area with lower population density and potentially fewer opportunities for certain types of crime compared to larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that the risk of experiencing a crime is relatively low for Selsey residents, with over 90% of the population not encountering any crime during the month. However, the distribution of crime types—particularly the higher proportion of violent and anti-social incidents—suggests that local risk profiles differ from the national average. These comparisons underscore how geography, demographics, and community-specific factors shape the lived experience of crime, even within a broadly safe area.