Deal Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

May 2023 saw Deal's overall crime rate at 6.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 18.8% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This marked a continuation of the area's consistently lower crime profile compared to national trends. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 43.6% of all crimes reported, followed by criminal damage and arson (19.0%) and anti-social behaviour (11.3%). These figures align with Deal's character as a coastal town with a mix of residential and commercial areas, where public spaces and community engagement may help mitigate some crime types. The seasonal context of May—marked by bank holidays, longer evenings, and increased outdoor socialising—likely contributed to the prominence of violence and anti-social behaviour, though the rate of such incidents remains below the UK average for anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Criminal damage and arson stood out as an anomaly, with rates 94% above the UK average, suggesting a potential link to seasonal activities or local factors such as increased property maintenance during warmer weather. The relatively low rates of burglary (3.1% of total crimes) and vehicle crime (1.0% of total crimes) may reflect Deal's compact built-up area and limited commercial zones, which could reduce opportunities for such offences. This pattern underscores the importance of contextual factors in shaping local crime dynamics, even within a generally safer-than-average region.

May 2023 saw a 60.9% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from 23 to 37 incidents. This surge, which placed the category 94% above the UK average, contrasts sharply with the 47% below-average rate for anti-social behaviour, which fell to 22 incidents. The most significant individual jumps were in possession of weapons (+100%) and robbery (+100%), both rising from zero to three and four incidents respectively. These spikes, though small in absolute terms, highlight areas of concern that may warrant further attention. Meanwhile, vehicle crime dropped by 71.4% (from seven to two incidents), and theft from the person fell by 50% (from two to one). The crime mix also shifted, with violent crimes comprising 43.6% of all incidents—slightly above the UK average for violence and sexual offences (which stood at 2.8 per 1,000, 1% above the UK average). For residents, the daily crime count of approximately six incidents provides a tangible reference point, though the overall rate remains lower than the UK average. This mix of rising and falling categories illustrates the combination of local factors and seasonal influences, such as the increased socialising associated with longer evenings in May.

Deal's crime rate in May 2023 (6.5 per 1,000) represented a 3.2% increase from the previous month's rate of 6.3 per 1,000. This small upward trend suggests a potential shift in crime patterns, though the overall rate remains significantly below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of six crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the monthly total of 195 incidents. Over the course of May, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 155 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in Deal compared to the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area's crime profile is not only lower in absolute terms but also distributed across a smaller population base, which may reflect its compact built-up nature. While the previous month's rate was slightly lower, the month-on-month changes in specific categories—such as the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson—suggest that local conditions or events may have influenced crime trends. This comparison highlights Deal's position as a generally safer area, even as it experiences fluctuations in particular crime types, offering residents a nuanced understanding of their local safety context.