Gosport Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Gosport's crime profile in January 2024 was defined by an unusually high rate of violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 43.4% of all reported crimes — significantly higher than the UK average for this category. The overall crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 residents placed the area 10.8% below the UK average of 7.4, suggesting a generally safer environment compared to the national picture. The top three crime types were violence and sexual offences (238 incidents), anti-social behaviour (70 incidents), and criminal damage and arson (45 incidents). Seasonal context in January, a post-holiday period marked by reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, likely contributed to the lower volume of outdoor crimes typically associated with busier months. However, the prominence of violence and sexual offences may reflect local factors such as the area's demographic composition or the presence of high-risk environments like public housing estates. The UK average for violence and sexual offences was 2.6 per 1,000, making Gosport's rate 12% higher — a figure that could be explained by the town's proximity to larger urban centres or the influence of transient populations. Meanwhile, property crimes such as burglary and vehicle crime saw notable increases, linked to the post-holiday return to normal routines or targeted activity in specific neighbourhoods. The contrast between high rates of violence and relatively low rates of theft from the person (0.0 per 1,000) suggests a complex relationship between crime types, with local conditions likely playing a significant role in shaping this profile.

January 2024 saw a 92.3% increase in burglary compared to December, with 25 incidents reported — the largest single-month rise in this category. Anti-social behaviour also surged by 48.9%, reaching 70 incidents, which may reflect the return of regular social activities after the Christmas break. Conversely, robbery fell by 66.7% (from 3 to 1 incidents), and possession of weapons dropped by 45.5% (from 11 to 6). Violence and sexual offences remained high, at 2.9 per 1,000 — 12% above the UK average. Bicycle theft, at 0.1 per 1,000, was 67% above the UK average, a figure that may align with local cycling infrastructure or winter conditions affecting bike storage. These shifts highlight a combination of seasonal factors and community-specific patterns, with property crimes rising while violent crimes held steady.

Gosport's crime rate in January 2024 rose by 5.4% compared to December 2023, moving from 6.3 to 6.6 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, suggests a shift in local crime dynamics during the post-holiday period. On a daily basis, 18 crimes were reported across the 31 days, equating to roughly one reported crime for every 151 residents over the month. While this monthly exposure is lower than the average for many urban areas, the rate remains 10.8% below the UK average. The population-scaled perspective shows that crime in Gosport is distributed across a relatively stable community, with no single category dominating the statistics. However, the 5.4% increase from the previous month may reflect seasonal patterns, such as the return to normal routines after the Christmas period, which could influence factors like retail activity or public gatherings.