Horsham Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Horsham’s December 2023 crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents placed it 40.3% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, a gap that underscores the district’s consistent safety record. This performance, while not immune to seasonal fluctuations, aligns with Horsham’s character as a largely suburban area with a mix of historic and modern neighbourhoods. The crime breakdown revealed that violence and sexual offences (214 incidents, 32.6% of total) remained the most common category, though they were 47% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This discrepancy may reflect the area’s lower population density and strong community policing efforts, which likely contribute to reduced opportunities for serious violence. Shoplifting (89 incidents, 13.6% of total) stood out as the second most frequent crime, albeit 22% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. This anomaly may be linked to the Christmas shopping peak, which typically increases retail crime in similar areas. Anti-social behaviour (80 incidents, 12.2% of total) also remained 46% below the UK average, reinforcing the district’s reputation for maintaining public order despite the holiday season. The overall crime profile illustrates a balance between seasonal pressures and the effectiveness of local initiatives in mitigating more serious offences. With the month marked by dark evenings and empty homes over the holidays, the relatively low rates of burglary (26 incidents, 0.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (70 incidents, 0.5 per 1,000) suggest that targeted interventions, such as community engagement and improved lighting, may be playing a role. While direct causal links, the combination of geographic factors and proactive measures likely explains Horsham’s continued position as a safer-than-average district.

December 2023 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with robbery and theft from the person both doubling compared to November. Robbery increased by 150% (2 to 5 incidents), while theft from the person rose by 100% (3 to 6). These spikes may partly explain the 32.6% share of violent crimes, which remain 47% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. Conversely, other theft and drugs offences fell sharply—other theft dropped 38.7% (62 to 38) and drugs offences declined 33.3% (15 to 10)—suggesting temporary disruptions in illicit activity. Shoplifting, however, edged 22% above the UK average, with 89 incidents (0.6 per 1,000) compared to the national rate of 0.5 per 1,000. This anomaly may relate to Christmas shopping pressures, though the overall property crime rate (288 incidents) remained a smaller proportion of total crimes than violent offences. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour (12.2% of total crimes) stayed 46% below the UK average, reinforcing Horsham’s reputation for community cohesion despite seasonal challenges.

Horsham’s crime rate in December 2023 (4.3 per 1,000 residents) marked a 15.9% decrease from November’s 5.2 per 1,000, reflecting a continued trend of relative safety compared to national averages. This decline aligns with the area’s consistently lower crime rates, which have remained below the UK average for several months. On a daily basis, the district saw approximately 21 reported crimes, translating to a local monthly exposure of one crime per 231 residents. This figure underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban areas, where crime rates often exceed 10 per 1,000. The population context further highlights Horsham’s position as a low-crime district: with 151,521 residents, the monthly total of 656 crimes equates to a manageable scale of activity. While the daily crime count provides a snapshot of local activity, the monthly exposure metric offers a broader perspective on how often residents might encounter crime. This comparison illustrates that Horsham’s safety profile, while not immune to fluctuations, remains distinct from the national picture, where higher population density and urban dynamics drive more frequent incidents.