Billingshurst Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Billingshurst's December 2024 crime profile reveals a distinct balance between property and violent crimes, with property offences (17) slightly outnumbering violent crimes (11). This distribution, while notable, remains significantly below the UK average for both categories — 52.1% lower overall, with violence and sexual offences 61% below the national rate. The seasonal context of December, marked by Christmas shopping, party season, and dark evenings, likely influences this pattern. Retail-focused crimes such as shoplifting (six incidents) surged 200% compared to November, aligning with the peak of festive consumer activity. Meanwhile, the relatively low rate of violent crime may reflect the area's character as a small built-up area with limited nightlife and a focus on residential and commercial zones. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences. of total crimes, fell by 60% month-on-month, possibly due to the quieter pre-Christmas period. The overall crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents — 52.1% below the UK average — highlights Billingshurst's position as a safe area, though the interplay of seasonal factors and local demographics continues to shape crime patterns. This balance between property and violent crime may indicate a community where economic activity and retail presence drive non-violent offences, while the absence of larger nightlife venues limits opportunities for more serious crimes.

December 2024 saw a 200% increase in shoplifting, with six incidents reported — a stark contrast to the previous month's two. This sharp rise, occurring during the Christmas shopping peak, may reflect increased foot traffic and retail activity in the area. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour and public order offences fell by 60%, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as shorter evenings and holiday-related community cohesion. Violent crime, though still the second most common category (11 incidents), remained 61% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences. The property crime-to-violent crime balance (17:11) suggests a focus on non-violent offences, consistent with the area's character as a small built-up area with retail and residential zones. Residents may find the daily crime rate (one per day) a useful benchmark for understanding local safety contexts.

Billingshurst's crime rate in December 2024 dropped by 19.2% compared to the previous month, reflecting a continued downward trend. With 38 crimes reported over 31 days, the area saw an average of one crime per day — a figure that, while low, underscores the persistent presence of criminal activity in a small built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 293 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the population of 11,140. This monthly exposure rate, though modest, highlights the proportion of the community affected by crime during a period typically marked by increased social activity. The decrease in anti-social behaviour and public order offences — which fell by 60% — may partly explain the overall rate reduction, though the sharp rise in shoplifting complicates the narrative. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while Billingshurst remains significantly safer than the UK average, the local dynamics of crime are shaped by both seasonal factors and specific local conditions.