Horsham Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Horsham’s December 2024 crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents places it 40.8% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, a stark contrast that underscores the area’s generally safer profile. This rate, which is 40.8% lower than the national average, positions Horsham as a district where residents face significantly lower crime risks, despite the usual seasonal fluctuations tied to the festive period. The most common crime type in December was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 34.6% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (11.3%) and shoplifting (10.7%). These figures align with the area’s characteristics: as a largely rural district with a mix of urban centres, Horsham’s lower violent crime rates may reflect a smaller population of younger individuals, who are statistically more likely to be involved in such incidents. Seasonal factors also play a role, as the Christmas shopping peak likely drives shoplifting, while the reduced foot traffic and increased police presence during the holidays may contribute to the overall decline in crime. However, the significant increase in possession of weapons—240% compared to November—suggests that certain criminal activities may be more sensitive to seasonal or festive-related dynamics, such as heightened police patrols or increased alcohol consumption in public spaces. This anomaly highlights the need for further analysis to understand the interplay between local policing strategies and crime trends. The area’s lower rates of property crimes, such as burglary and vehicle crime, compared to the UK average, may also reflect the influence of local infrastructure, such as secure parking facilities and the relatively low density of high-value properties in residential areas. These factors, combined with the area’s generally lower population density, contribute to a crime profile that diverges from the national average in multiple dimensions.

December saw a 240% increase in possession of weapons, rising from 5 to 17 incidents—a sharp contrast to the UK average, which remains 67% below. This spike, while small in absolute terms, may partly reflect increased police visibility during the festive season. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 52.6%, from 95 to 45 incidents, possibly due to reduced traffic and more parked vehicles in private driveways during the holidays. Shoplifting also rose by 21.4%, a trend consistent with the Christmas shopping peak, though it remained 12% below the UK average. Theft from the person surged by 200%, from 3 to 9 incidents, a figure that may suggest targeted activity in crowded retail areas. These shifts highlight the combination of seasonal factors and local crime patterns, offering insights for both residents and law enforcement. For example, the 100% reduction in bicycle theft—though limited to two incidents—could indicate the effectiveness of recent community initiatives, though such claims remain speculative without further data. The area’s violent crime rate, at 1.5 per 1,000, is 41% below the UK average, suggesting a combination of effective policing and demographic factors such as a lower proportion of younger populations, who are statistically more likely to be involved in violent crimes.

Horsham’s December 2024 crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents marks a 10.8% decline from November’s 4.7 per 1,000, continuing a trend of year-on-year stability. This rate, which is 40.8% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, underscores the area’s position as a relatively safe district. On a daily basis, Horsham recorded approximately 21 crimes per day in December, a figure that aligns with the seasonal rhythm of the area, where reduced foot traffic during holidays may contribute to lower incident volumes. The monthly exposure metric further illustrates that one crime occurred for every 237 residents over the course of the month—a rate that, while low, highlights the population-scaled context of Horsham’s safety profile. This metric, when considered alongside the local population of 151,521, reinforces the area’s reputation as a place where residents face significantly lower crime risks than the UK average, despite the usual seasonal fluctuations tied to the festive period. The consistent gap between Horsham’s rate and the national average suggests systemic factors, such as community policing strategies or demographic characteristics, may play a role in maintaining this disparity. However, the exact causes, only the sustained difference.