Deal Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

October 2023 in Deal, a coastal town within Dover, presented a mixed crime picture, with the most unexpected development being a 500% increase in burglary despite an overall crime rate of 7.1 per 1,000 residents — 11.3% below the UK average of 8.0. This sharp rise in burglary, from one to six incidents, contrasts with broader declines in violent crime and anti-social behaviour, reflecting the combination of seasonal factors and local dynamics. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category at 93 cases (43.7% of total), remained 15% above the UK average, highlighting persistent challenges in this area. The seasonal context of October, with shorter evenings and Halloween activities, likely influenced crime patterns, potentially increasing opportunities for burglary during darker hours or altering community interactions. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson (26 cases) and anti-social behaviour (23 cases) stood out as significant contributors to the local crime profile, with the latter showing a 20.7% decline from September. This reduction may be linked to decreased public gatherings as the month progressed, though the absence of a major event in October complicates direct attribution. The area's coastal geography, combined with its urban character, likely shapes these patterns — for example, retail centres may contribute to shoplifting rates, while the proximity to Dover could influence burglary trends through increased foot traffic or property vulnerability. Overall, the data suggests that while Deal's crime rate remains below the UK average, targeted interventions may be needed to address specific spikes, such as the burglary surge, which defied the general downward trend.

October 2023 saw a dramatic 500% surge in burglary, rising from one to six incidents, an anomaly in an otherwise declining trend. This spike contrasts with an 18.4% decrease in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 114 to 93 cases — a drop that may reflect seasonal shifts as shorter evenings curtail opportunities for such crimes. Shoplifting also rose by 60%, increasing from 10 to 16 incidents, suggesting heightened retail activity or targeted theft during Halloween. Violence and sexual offences remain 15% above the UK average, despite the month-on-month decline. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour dropped by 20.7%, potentially linked to reduced public gatherings as October progresses. The daily crime count of seven per day offers a concrete benchmark for residents assessing local safety, though burglary's sharp increase deserves closer attention for community awareness.

Deal's October 2023 crime rate of 7.1 per 1,000 residents marks a 5.0% decrease from September's 7.4 per 1,000, reflecting a slight trend toward lower overall crime. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 142 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure in human terms. With 213 total crimes reported across 31 days, this averages to approximately seven crimes per day — a local metric that does not directly compare to national daily figures. The population-scaled perspective reveals that, while the rate remains below the UK average, the distribution of crime types differs notably. For instance, anti-social behaviour incidents fell by 20.7%, aligning with a broader pattern of reduced public disorder as October's shorter evenings and Halloween events may have shifted community activity patterns. These daily and monthly aggregates provide residents with a tangible sense of local crime frequency, helping to distinguish routine fluctuations from more significant trends.