Lee-on-the-Solent Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Lee-on-the-Solent’s crime rate in December 2023 stood at 2.7 per 1,000 residents, a stark contrast to the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000. This 62.5% deficit highlights the area’s relative safety, though specific crime patterns reveal unexpected shifts. Violence and sexual offences dominated with 30 reported incidents (42.3% of total crimes), a rate of 1.2 per 1,000—54% below the UK average. The seasonal context of December, marked by dark evenings and holiday activity, may have influenced crime dynamics, though the overall low rate suggests strong community resilience. Criminal damage and arson (10 cases) and other theft (8 cases) followed, both significantly below UK averages. Anti-social behaviour and shoplifting saw sharp declines, possibly linked to reduced public presence during the festive season. The area’s coastal character and compact built-up nature likely contribute to lower property crime rates compared to larger urban centres. While December typically sees spikes in retail-related crimes, the absence of such trends here underscores the effectiveness of local policing and community engagement efforts. However, the unexpected rise in bicycle theft—a 100% increase from November—raises questions about holiday mobility patterns or unsecured bike storage during the festive period.

December 2023 saw a 100% surge in bicycle theft, jumping from zero to two incidents—a sharp contrast to the usual seasonal decline in such crimes. This spike, coupled with a 100% increase in drug-related offences and a 57.1% drop in shoplifting, points to shifting criminal activity patterns. Public order offences fell by 66.7% (from nine to three), potentially reflecting reduced foot traffic during the Christmas holiday period. Violence and sexual offences, though remaining the most common category, were 54% below the UK average, a figure that remains consistent with the area’s low overall crime rate. The UK average for criminal damage and arson is 0.6 per 1,000, yet Lee-on-the-Solent recorded 0.4 per 1,000—29% lower, illustrating the area’s continued safety in this category. Residents may find the 1.2 per 1,000 rate for violence and sexual offences particularly noteworthy, as it represents a 54% deficit compared to national figures. The absence of burglary and drugs-related crimes in the previous month, now present in December, suggests transient criminal activity rather than systemic issues.

Lee-on-the-Solent’s crime rate in December 2023 fell 19.4% from November’s 3.4 per 1,000, marking a continued downward trend. Over the month, 71 crimes were reported—roughly 2 per day—translating to one crime for every 364 residents. This monthly exposure rate, while low, offers context for residents: in a typical year, a resident would encounter approximately 2.8 crimes. The area’s population of 25,870 means that even small changes in crime numbers have meaningful local impacts. Comparing Lee-on-the-Solent to the UK average, its overall crime rate is 62.5% lower, a figure that underscores the effectiveness of local policing strategies. However, the 100% increase in bicycle theft and drug-related offences from November highlights the need for targeted interventions in specific categories. The daily crime count of 2 per day may seem high for some, but when scaled to the area’s population, it remains well below national benchmarks. The 19.4% monthly decline aligns with broader seasonal patterns, where holiday periods often see reduced street-level crime due to closures and reduced public activity. Yet the rise in bicycle theft suggests that certain vulnerabilities—such as unsecured bike storage in residential areas—require attention.