Fareham Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Fareham's crime picture in September 2023, making up 41.3% of all reported crimes. With a crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents, the area remains 35% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This consistent performance reflects the local authority's focus on community policing and its relatively low population density compared to major urban centres. The seasonal context of September—marking the return of students to university campuses and the start of the school year—likely contributes to the prominence of violent crime, as increased foot traffic and social mixing in town centres may heighten opportunities for such incidents. Anti-social behaviour follows closely at 12.2% of total crimes, a figure 55% below the UK average. This suggests that community engagement initiatives and localised enforcement strategies may be effectively reducing disruptive behaviour. Public order offences, at 10.9% of total crimes, remain 3% below the UK average, indicating that Fareham's approach to managing public spaces and events is yielding results. The overall crime profile shows a marked contrast to larger cities, where property crimes often dominate, reinforcing Fareham's identity as a commuter-friendly coastal town with strong community networks. The low levels of property crime—particularly shoplifting, vehicle crime, and burglary—further support this characterisation, with all three categories remaining significantly below UK averages. These patterns highlight the interplay between Fareham's geographical and demographic traits, where proximity to natural amenities and a stable population base may contribute to sustained lower crime rates.

September 2023 saw notable shifts in Fareham's crime profile. Drug-related offences surged by 250%, rising from 4 to 14 incidents—a sharp increase that may reflect seasonal factors such as the post-summer influx of transient populations or changes in local enforcement priorities. Vehicle crime also rose sharply by 180%, with 28 incidents reported compared to 10 in August, potentially linked to increased car ownership during the school year or vulnerabilities in parking infrastructure. Conversely, shoplifting decreased by 26.6% (64 to 47 incidents), due to heightened retail security measures or reduced foot traffic in certain areas. Anti-social behaviour fell by 15.9% (88 to 74), a trend consistent with the area's generally low levels of such activity. Fareham's performance against UK averages remains striking: violence and sexual offences are 20% below the national rate, while anti-social behaviour is 55% below. This suggests that local strategies for conflict resolution and community engagement are yielding tangible benefits. The absence of significant increases in theft from the person or burglary—both at UK average levels—further underscores the area's comparative safety. For residents, the 13.7% rise in overall crime rate from August to September (4.6 to 5.2 per 1,000) serves as a reminder that crime trends can shift rapidly, even in areas with historically low rates.

Fareham's September 2023 crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents represents a 13.7% increase from August's 4.6 per 1,000. While this rise is notable, it remains well below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly 20 crimes per day in September—a figure that, while steady, highlights the persistent presence of crime in local communities. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 191 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places Fareham in the lower quartile of UK local authorities. This statistic, when contextualised against the area's population of 115,428, illustrates that while crime is not absent, its impact is distributed across a relatively large population base. The comparison to the UK average is particularly instructive: Fareham's violent crime rate is 20% below the national figure, and anti-social behaviour is 55% below, suggesting that local governance and policing strategies have successfully mitigated certain high-impact categories. However, the 13.7% month-on-month increase indicates that these gains are not static, and ongoing vigilance is required. For residents, the daily crime count provides a tangible benchmark—20 incidents per day is equivalent to one crime occurring roughly every 4.5 hours. While this frequency may seem high, it is significantly lower than the UK average, which would equate to over 25 crimes per day in a similarly sized area. This contrast reinforces Fareham's position as a relatively safe community, even as it navigates seasonal fluctuations in crime patterns.