East Hampshire Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in East Hampshire, 4.8 crimes were reported in August 2023 — a rate 40.7% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This translates to a daily risk of roughly 20 crimes across the district, or one reported crime for every 210 residents over the month. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 36.3% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (11.7%) and other theft (9.9%). These figures suggest a relatively low-risk environment compared to national trends. August, a peak holiday month, typically sees increased tourism and empty homes, which may partly explain the 70.6% month-on-month rise in burglary. However, violent crime remains lower than the UK average, with East Hampshire’s rate of 1.7 per 1,000 for violence and sexual offences 36% below the national figure of 2.6. Anti-social behaviour also shows a stark contrast, with East Hampshire’s 0.6 per 1,000 rate 58% below the UK average of 1.4. These differences may reflect the area’s character as a largely rural district with fewer densely populated urban centres, where community cohesion and lower population density could contribute to reduced rates of public disorder. The seasonal context of August — a time of increased leisure travel and home vacancies — appears to create a mixed impact, with some crime types rising while others, such as shoplifting (down 26.8% from July) and public order offences (down 32.4%), decline. This suggests a combination of local demographics and transient factors like holiday activity.

August 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with burglary rising sharply by 70.6% compared to July, reaching 58 incidents. This increase, while notable, still kept East Hampshire’s burglary rate at 0.5 per 1,000 — 47% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000, highlighting a localised vulnerability. Vehicle crime also rose by 50%, from 26 to 39 incidents, though this remained 39% below the UK average. Conversely, theft from the person saw a 100% increase, jumping from zero to four incidents, a figure that may concern residents relying on public transport or outdoor spaces. On the decline side, shoplifting dropped by 26.8% (41 to 30) and public order offences fell by 32.4% (68 to 46), potentially reflecting reduced foot traffic during August’s peak holiday season. The breakdown of crime types reveals a striking contrast: while violence and sexual offences (1.7 per 1,000) remain the largest category, they are 36% below the UK average. This divergence may be attributed to East Hampshire’s rural character, where community policing and lower population density could mitigate violent crime. The data also shows that anti-social behaviour — at 0.6 per 1,000 — is 58% below the UK average, suggesting that local initiatives or social structures may be effective in managing such incidents. Residents might find the 100% increase in theft from the person particularly relevant, as it underscores the need for vigilance in high-traffic areas during holidays.

East Hampshire’s August 2023 crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 residents represents a 1.5% increase from July’s 4.7 per 1,000 — a shift that, while statistically significant, remains within a stable range. This translates to 20 crimes reported daily on average, a figure that, while seemingly high, is mitigated by the district’s population of 129,975. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 210 residents, a ratio that places East Hampshire well below the UK’s average monthly exposure. When viewed through a population-scaled lens, the district’s crime profile appears safer than national benchmarks: for instance, anti-social behaviour rates are 58% below the UK average, and violence and sexual offences are 36% below. This contrast may be partly explained by East Hampshire’s rural character, where lower population density and stronger community ties can reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The 4.8 per 1,000 rate also means that the likelihood of experiencing a crime is significantly lower than in areas with higher rates, such as urban centres. However, the 70.6% increase in burglary compared to July suggests that seasonal factors — such as the influx of holidaymakers and the increased number of unoccupied homes — may temporarily elevate risk in specific areas. Residents should consider this when securing properties during peak holiday periods, even as the overall crime rate remains comfortably below national averages.