Great Yarmouth Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2023, Great Yarmouth recorded a crime rate of 9.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 15% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This figure reflects a combination of factors, including the area's identity as a coastal resort with a mix of tourist activity and local residential communities. The crime profile shows a marked imbalance between property and violent crime, with 45.2% of all reported incidents falling under violence and sexual offences, compared to 28.1% for property crimes. This dominance of violent crime over property crime may partly explain the elevated overall rate relative to the UK average, as areas with higher concentrations of nightlife and public spaces often see proportionally more violent incidents. Seasonal context appears to influence patterns: October’s darker evenings and Halloween celebrations may have contributed to increased anti-social behaviour (13.3% of total crimes) and criminal damage (9.9% of total crimes). The data also shows that while violent crime rates are significantly above the UK average, certain property-related offences like shoplifting (31% below UK average) and vehicle crime (62% below UK average) remain lower, reflecting the area’s lower density of commercial zones compared to major urban centres. This contrast highlights the need to consider local geography when interpreting crime statistics, as coastal resorts often have distinct profiles compared to industrial or commuter areas.

October 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with theft from the person surging by 200% compared to September, rising from 3 to 9 incidents. This sharp increase may reflect heightened activity in public spaces during Halloween, when large crowds gather in the town’s main thoroughfares. Possession of weapons also rose by 58.3%, with incidents jumping from 12 to 19, a figure 186% above the UK average. This spike could indicate challenges in managing the influx of transient populations during peak tourist months. Conversely, bicycle theft fell by 33.3%, dropping from 12 to 8, and vehicle crime decreased by 32%, falling from 25 to 17. These declines may be linked to the seasonal slowdown in tourist traffic and the closure of some retail outlets in October. The overall crime mix reveals a stark contrast between violent and property crime: violence and sexual offences accounted for 45.2% of all reported crimes, far exceeding the 28.1% share for property crimes. This imbalance is particularly notable given that Great Yarmouth’s violent crime rate is 56% above the UK average, while property crime rates for categories like burglary (41% below UK average) and shoplifting (31% below UK average) remain lower. This suggests that local factors—such as the town’s status as a coastal resort with a vibrant nightlife—may be driving the disproportionate focus on violent crime in the area’s statistics.

Great Yarmouth’s crime rate in October 2023 remained stable compared to the previous month, increasing by just 1.5% from 9.0 to 9.2 per 1,000 residents. This minimal change suggests that the overall crime environment has not shifted dramatically, despite the notable fluctuations in specific categories. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 30 crimes per day in October, a figure that provides residents with a concrete sense of the pace of criminal activity in their community. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 109 residents, highlighting the frequency of incidents relative to the population. When considered against the town’s population of 100,529, this rate underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and community engagement in crime prevention. The comparison to the UK average reveals that while Great Yarmouth’s overall rate is 15% higher than the national figure, certain categories show divergent trends. For instance, anti-social behaviour (13.3% of total crimes) is 6% below the UK average, suggesting that local efforts to manage public order may be having some effect. Meanwhile, the significantly higher rates of violence and sexual offences (56% above UK average) indicate areas where targeted interventions might be necessary. These comparative insights help contextualise the local data within a broader national framework, offering residents a clearer picture of how their community’s crime profile aligns—or diverges—from national trends.