Billingshurst Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Billingshurst's crime profile in November 2024, accounting for 36.2% of all reported crimes. This category, at 1.5 per 1,000 residents, is 42% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, underscoring the area's comparatively lower incidence of violent crime. The overall crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000, 44.7% below the UK average, reflects a broader pattern where anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) and other theft (0.5 per 1,000) remain significantly below national figures. The built-up nature of Billingshurst, characterised by a mix of residential and retail areas, likely contributes to the prevalence of violent and disruptive incidents over property-related crimes. Seasonal factors, such as the transition to darker evenings and the timing of Black Friday shopping, may have influenced the rise in theft and other crimes. The data highlights a crime picture where residents face a manageable risk of violence and anti-social behaviour, with property crimes occurring at a rate far below the UK average. This suggests that while localised factors may drive short-term fluctuations, the area's overall safety remains robust, particularly when compared to larger urban centres with higher crime rates. The seasonal context also indicates that as evenings grow darker, the likelihood of public order offences may decrease, though this could shift again with changes in weather or community activity patterns.

November 2024 saw a 150% increase in other theft, rising from two to five incidents, a shift that may partly reflect heightened activity during Black Friday shopping. Other crime and criminal damage and arson each doubled compared to October, though these remain low in absolute terms. Public order offences, however, decreased by 28.6% to five incidents, possibly linked to reduced outdoor activity as evenings grew darker. The breakdown reveals that violence and sexual offences, at 1.5 per 1,000, are 42% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, while anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) is 19% below the UK average of 1.1 per 1,000. These figures suggest a crime profile skewed towards violent and disruptive incidents rather than property crimes, a pattern consistent with Billingshurst's built-up character and seasonal context. Residents may find the sharp rise in other theft particularly noteworthy, as it indicates a need for heightened vigilance during high-traffic periods.

Billingshurst's crime rate in November 2024 rose 20.6% from 3.5 to 4.2 per 1,000 residents compared to October, reflecting a slight upward trend. Despite this increase, the area remains 44.7% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000, underscoring its relatively safer environment. Daily, the area experiences roughly two crimes per day, a rate that, while consistent with November's seasonal rhythm, is markedly lower than the UK's national average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 237 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within the area's population of 11,140. This population-scaled perspective reinforces that while the rate has increased, the absolute number of incidents remains low, offering reassurance to residents. The local context, including the area's built-up character and seasonal factors like darker evenings, likely contributes to the observed patterns, though the overall safety profile remains strong relative to national benchmarks.