Horsham Crime Rate March 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime profile in Horsham for March 2023, accounting for 31.2% of all reported crimes. This category alone contributes to a crime rate of 1.2 per 1,000 residents, which is 56% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. The local authority district's overall crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 is 48.7% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently safer environment compared to the national picture. Anti-social behaviour follows closely, making up 12.1% of total crimes, while public order offences and vehicle crime account for 9.9% and 9.5% respectively. The seasonal transition to spring, with evenings lengthening and clocks moving forward, likely contributes to increased visibility of crimes during daylight hours. However, the lower-than-average rates for property-related crimes such as shoplifting (39% below UK average) and burglary (9% below) suggest that local factors—such as a strong community presence or well-maintained public spaces—may help deter such offences. The dominance of violent crime over property crime contrasts with some UK regions where property crime typically outpaces violent crime, hinting at potential differences in local demographics or socio-economic factors. These patterns underscore the importance of context-specific analysis rather than broad generalisations about crime trends.

March 2023 saw violence and sexual offences remain the most prevalent crime category, with a rate of 1.2 per 1,000 residents—56% below the UK average. This is a stark contrast to the national trend, where violence and sexual offences often account for a smaller share of total crimes. The balance between property and violent crime in Horsham is also noteworthy: property crimes (238 incidents) slightly outpace violent crimes (183 incidents), though both categories remain significantly below UK averages. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.5 per 1,000, is 52% below the UK average, suggesting a lower incidence of disruptive incidents in public spaces. The local rate for shoplifting (0.3 per 1,000) is 39% below the UK average, potentially reflecting effective retail security measures or lower foot traffic in key areas. A concrete data point for residents: with 19 crimes reported daily on average, the localised nature of crime means most incidents are concentrated in specific areas rather than spread evenly across the district. This could indicate targeted policing efforts or the influence of local hotspots such as commercial centres or transport hubs.

Horsham's crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents in March 2023 translates to roughly one reported crime for every 258 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, where the equivalent figure would be significantly higher. On a daily basis, the area experiences approximately 19 crimes per day, a figure that, while non-trivial, is proportionally lower than the UK-wide average when scaled to Horsham's population of 151,521. The population context further highlights the disparity: with a larger population, the UK's crime rate would generate a far higher number of incidents. For instance, if Horsham's population were scaled to match the UK's, the equivalent crime count would be substantially higher. This comparison underscores the effectiveness of local crime prevention strategies or the influence of Horsham's unique characteristics—such as its mix of rural and urban areas, which may reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The low rate of possession of weapons (0.1 per 1,000, 43% above the UK average) is an anomaly worth noting, though the small number of incidents (10) suggests that this category may not be a major concern for residents. These figures collectively illustrate a district where crime is both less frequent and less severe compared to national benchmarks, though the reasons for this remain subject to further analysis.