Billingshurst Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated crime reporting in Billingshurst during January 2025, accounting for 42.9% of all incidents. At 4.4 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area’s overall crime rate was 38.0% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, reflecting a safer profile than the national benchmark. This contrast is particularly striking given the prominence of violent crime, which stood at 1.9 per 1,000—24% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour (0.7 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.5 per 1,000) also contributed significantly to the monthly tally, though both remained well below national rates. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—likely contributed to the lower incidence of outdoor crimes typically associated with busier months. However, the persistent focus on violence and sexual offences suggests ongoing challenges in managing interpersonal conflict, which may be linked to the area’s mix of residential and rural characteristics. The low rates of shoplifting (0.1 per 1,000) and drug-related crimes (0.1 per 1,000) further highlight the area’s divergence from national trends, potentially reflecting strong community policing efforts or a demographic profile less prone to these specific offences.

January 2025 saw sharp increases in public order offences (+200%), criminal damage and arson (+150%), and anti-social behaviour (+100%) compared to December. These jumps contrast with steep declines in shoplifting (-83.3%) and drug-related crimes (-50%), suggesting shifting patterns in criminal activity. The 0.5 per 1,000 rate for public order offences—a category that includes noise disputes and anti-social behaviour—was 9% above the UK average, indicating a localised challenge in managing community tensions. Conversely, shoplifting rates were 84% below the UK average, possibly due to the post-holiday lull in retail activity or effective prevention measures. The violent crime category, though still the most common, remained 24% below the UK average, a figure that may reflect the area’s relatively stable social fabric despite the spike in certain offences. For residents, the 100% increase in anti-social behaviour—now the second-most reported category—suggests a need for targeted interventions in specific neighbourhoods.

Billingshurst’s crime rate rose 29.0% from December 2024’s 3.4 per 1,000 to January’s 4.4 per 1,000, marking a notable upward trend. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 227 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area’s generally low crime profile. On a daily basis, the local figure of 2 crimes per day aligns with the seasonal context of January, which typically sees reduced retail and outdoor activity compared to busier months. While the population-scaled perspective shows that Billingshurst’s rates remain far below the UK average, the month-on-month increase raises questions about underlying factors. The 227-resident ratio is particularly meaningful for local residents, as it illustrates the relative rarity of crime in a community of just over 11,000 people. This contrast with larger urban areas—where daily crime counts are often higher—highlights Billingshurst’s position as a low-crime built-up area within Horsham, where community cohesion and geographical characteristics may play a role in maintaining lower rates despite the recent uptick in certain offence categories.