Great Yarmouth Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

May 2024 marked a combination of stability and volatility in Great Yarmouth’s crime profile. The area’s crime rate of 10.0 per 1,000 residents placed it 19% above the UK average, a figure that reflects the town’s unique challenges as a coastal resort with a mix of tourist activity and local community dynamics. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 40.2% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (16.0%) and criminal damage and arson (11.3%). These patterns align with the seasonal rhythms of May, when longer evenings and bank holidays often lead to increased outdoor drinking and socialising in the town’s coastal areas. While the overall rate remained stable compared to the previous month, the breakdown of crime types highlights persistent issues in public order and personal safety. The rate of violence and sexual offences fell by 11.0% month-on-month, a shift that may partly explain the slight reduction in the overall crime rate despite the broader upward trend relative to the UK. However, the significant overperformance in categories such as anti-social behaviour (10% above UK average) and drugs offences (82% above) underscores the need for targeted interventions in specific areas of the town. The seasonal context of May—marked by extended daylight hours and the start of the summer tourism season—likely contributes to the fluctuating nature of crime, particularly in high-traffic zones like the promenade and local nightlife hubs. This data illustrates the importance of understanding how local geography and seasonal patterns interact with broader crime trends, offering insights that go beyond raw numbers to inform community safety strategies.

The month-on-month changes in May 2024 revealed stark contrasts in crime trends. Robbery saw a 300% increase, jumping from two to eight incidents, while theft from the person surged by 250%, rising from two to seven cases. These sharp spikes are particularly concerning given the town’s reliance on tourism, where vulnerable individuals may be more susceptible to targeted crimes. Conversely, violence and sexual offences decreased by 11.0%, a 454-to-404 reduction that may reflect a combination of increased policing presence during peak hours and the natural fluctuation of seasonal crime patterns. Anti-social behaviour also rose by 36.4%, with incidents climbing from 118 to 161—a trend that could be linked to the influx of visitors and the associated pressure on local resources. Meanwhile, some categories showed marked improvements, such as bicycle theft, which fell by 33.3% to two incidents, and vehicle crime, which was 57% below the UK average. The latter may be attributed to the town’s relatively low density of car parks and the presence of secure storage facilities near major attractions. For residents, the most immediate concern is the surge in robberies, which highlights the need for heightened vigilance in public spaces, particularly during the evening hours when the town’s nightlife and tourist areas are most active. These findings underscore the importance of tailored crime prevention strategies that account for both the unique characteristics of Great Yarmouth and the broader UK context.

When compared to the previous month, Great Yarmouth’s crime rate remained stable at 10.0 per 1,000 residents, indicating no significant directional shift in overall criminal activity. However, the daily crime context paints a different picture: with 1004 total crimes reported over 31 days, the town experienced an average of 32 crimes per day—a figure that, while consistent with historical trends, remains a stark reminder of the persistent challenges faced by local authorities. On a monthly basis, the crime rate translates to one reported incident for every 100 residents, a statistic that offers a tangible sense of the scale of criminal activity within the community. This rate is particularly notable when viewed through the lens of the town’s population of 100,529, as it suggests that the likelihood of encountering a crime is higher than the UK average, which sits at 8.4 per 1,000. The comparison also highlights the disparity in specific crime categories, with violent crimes and anti-social behaviour consistently outpacing national benchmarks. For instance, the rate of violence and sexual offences in Great Yarmouth (4.0 per 1,000) is 41% above the UK average, a discrepancy that may be influenced by the town’s coastal location and the associated pressures of tourism. These figures, when contextualised within the local population and geographic profile, provide a more nuanced understanding of the area’s crime profile, revealing both the strengths and weaknesses of current policing and community engagement efforts.