Weymouth Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Weymouth, 11.1 crimes were reported in August 2024, placing the area 35.4% above the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This rate translates to a resident facing roughly one reported crime for every 90 people over the course of the month. The most common crime types were violence and sexual offences (31.2% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (25.7%) and criminal damage and arson (8.7%). These figures align with August’s seasonal context as a peak holiday month, when increased tourism and seasonal activities may contribute to heightened incidents of anti-social behaviour and violence in public spaces. While the area’s crime rate remains higher than the UK average, certain categories show contrasting trends: shoplifting is 15% below the UK average, possibly reflecting local retail strategies or enforcement efforts. The higher proportion of violent crime compared to the UK’s 30% share may reflect Weymouth’s character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and tourist areas, where interactions in public spaces are more frequent. However, direct causal links, and factors such as local policing priorities or community engagement initiatives could also play a role. The seasonal context of August—characterised by summer holidays, increased foot traffic, and more unoccupied properties during the day—may partly explain the elevated rates of burglary and vehicle crime, though these will be explored in the highlights section.

August 2024 saw significant shifts in crime patterns compared to July, with vehicle crime surging by 120% (from 15 to 33 incidents) and burglary doubling (from 12 to 24). These increases may be linked to August’s status as a peak holiday month, where temporary residents and tourists may leave vehicles unattended or leave homes unoccupied during the day. Anti-social behaviour remained the second most common crime type at 25.7% of the total, a rate 101% above the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000. This could reflect the challenges of managing public spaces during the summer season, when transient populations and increased social activity may strain local resources. Conversely, robbery and other crime types both decreased—robbery fell by 40% (from 5 to 3) and other crime dropped by 33.3% (from 6 to 4), though these declines are relatively modest compared to the sharp increases in other categories. Drug-related offences also fell by 28.6% (from 7 to 5), a reduction that may be consistent with seasonal patterns or local enforcement efforts. Shoplifting in Weymouth was 15% below the UK average, suggesting that local retail environments or community policing strategies may be more effective in deterring such crimes. These month-on-month changes highlight the dynamic nature of crime in Weymouth, where seasonal factors and local conditions can drive fluctuations in specific crime types.

Weymouth’s crime rate in August 2024 rose by 6.6% compared to the previous month, moving from 10.4 to 11.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase, while modest, underscores the volatility of crime patterns in a built-up area with seasonal fluctuations. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 19 crimes per day in August, a figure that may be more impactful when considered alongside the local population context. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 90 residents, illustrating the frequency of incidents in a community of 53,632 people. This monthly exposure rate is higher than the UK average, which is not directly comparable due to the absence of national daily or monthly exposure figures. However, it provides a tangible perspective for residents: in a single month, the likelihood of encountering a crime is approximately 1.1% (1 in 90). The population-scaled perspective also reveals that Weymouth’s crime rate is higher than the UK average in certain categories, such as anti-social behaviour and violence, which may reflect the area’s unique demographic profile or local challenges in managing public order. These figures, while not directly linked to specific causes, offer a snapshot of the risk landscape for individuals living or visiting Weymouth during this period.