Henfield Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Henfield's crime profile in November 2023 reveals a marked contrast between property and violent crime trends. The overall crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents places the area 53.3% below the UK average of 7.5, a gap consistent with its character as a relatively quiet built-up area within Horsham. The balance of crime types shows property offences (10 incidents) outpacing violent crimes (6 incidents), with violence and sexual offences accounting for 28.6% of all recorded crimes. This property-centric pattern aligns with seasonal factors: Black Friday shopping likely drove retail-related thefts, while shorter evenings and colder weather may have reduced opportunities for public order incidents. Violent crime rates in Henfield (1.0 per 1,000) are 61% below the UK average, a disparity that could reflect the area's low population density and limited nightlife. However, the dominance of property crime suggests vulnerabilities tied to the local economy, such as the prevalence of small businesses and commuter parking areas. The absence of significant spikes in burglary or shoplifting compared to the UK average indicates that existing security measures—whether community-focused or technological—may be functioning effectively. This balance between property and violent crime illustrates a community where environmental factors and seasonal rhythms play a more prominent role than demographic pressures.

November 2023 saw stark month-on-month shifts in Henfield's crime mix. Other theft and anti-social behaviour each surged by 200%, rising from 1 to 3 incidents—a sudden increase that may reflect heightened community tensions or the impact of short-term events like Bonfire Night. Conversely, violent crime fell sharply by 57.1%, with violence and sexual offences dropping from 14 to 6 incidents, potentially linked to reduced social interactions during darker evenings. This shift reinforces Henfield's broader trend of property crime outpacing violent crime, with property offences accounting for 47.6% of all incidents compared to 28.6% for violence. While the area's violent crime rate remains 61% below the UK average, the spike in anti-social behaviour raises questions about local enforcement capacity. For residents, the most immediately relevant data is the 200% increase in other theft, which could signal heightened opportunities for opportunistic crimes around high-street businesses during the Black Friday shopping period. Meanwhile, the UK average for vehicle crime (0.5 per 1,000) matches Henfield's rate exactly, suggesting that the area's vehicle crime prevention strategies are in line with national standards. This juxtaposition of rising property crime and falling violent crime underscores the combination of seasonal factors and local policing priorities.

Henfield's November 2023 crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 residents represents a 16.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.2, a decline that translates to roughly 1 crime per day over the 30-day period. When scaled to the area's population of 5,985, this means that over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 285 residents—a figure that, while low, highlights the visibility of even minor incidents in a small community. This monthly exposure rate is particularly meaningful for residents, as it provides a tangible sense of how frequently crime intersects with daily life. Compared to the UK average, Henfield's violent crime rate remains significantly lower, with 1.0 per 1,000 residents compared to the national figure of 2.6. However, the area's property crime rate (0.5 per 1,000 for other theft and vehicle crime combined) is only marginally below the UK average, suggesting that while Henfield's overall crime rate is low, property crime remains a persistent concern. The local context of a commuter-oriented built-up area within Horsham likely contributes to this pattern, as parking lots and retail zones create micro-environments where property crimes are more likely to occur. These comparisons illustrate how Henfield's unique geography and demographics shape its crime profile in ways that diverge from both the UK average and its own historical trends.