Southwater Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In August 2024, Southwater maintained a crime rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents, a figure that is 63.4% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area's generally low crime profile, though the breakdown of crime types reveals an intriguing dynamic between property and violent offences. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 44.1% of all reported crimes, with 15 incidents recorded—significantly lower than the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000 for this category. Anti-social behaviour followed at 14.7%, with 5 reported cases, while other theft and public order offences each contributed 8.8% of the total. The seasonal context of August, a peak holiday month, may have influenced these patterns, as increased tourism and temporary population shifts could have impacted both the frequency and nature of reported crimes. The rate of property crimes (10 incidents) was lower than the 15 violent crimes recorded, a balance that diverges from the UK trend where violent crime typically dominates. This suggests that Southwater's built-up area, likely characterized by a mix of residential and commercial properties, may experience different pressures compared to larger urban centres. The relatively low levels of vehicle crime (2 incidents) and shoplifting (2 incidents) may reflect the area's smaller retail footprint and limited public transportation infrastructure, factors that could contribute to the subdued rates of these specific offences. While the overall crime rate remains stable, the interplay between seasonal factors and local demographics continues to shape the area's crime picture, requiring ongoing monitoring to identify emerging trends.

August 2024 saw notable shifts in specific crime categories, with drug-related offences doubling from zero to one incident—a 100% increase—while other theft and vehicle crime also rose sharply from zero to three and two incidents, respectively. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 66.7%, and public order offences dropped by 40%, indicating a possible seasonal realignment in criminal activity. The balance between property and violent crime remained skewed, with 15 violent crimes reported compared to 10 property crimes, a ratio that contrasts sharply with the UK average where violent crimes typically dominate. Violence and sexual offences in Southwater (1.3 per 1,000) were 52% below the UK average (2.7 per 1,000), highlighting a consistent underperformance of violent crime relative to national trends. This divergence may reflect the area's character as a low-density built-up zone, where community engagement and local policing efforts likely contribute to the lower rates of serious violence.

Southwater's crime rate in August 2024 remained stable at 3.0 per 1,000 residents, matching the same rate recorded in July. This consistency suggests no immediate spikes or dips in overall criminal activity, though localized shifts in specific categories warrant closer examination. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. When scaled to the population of 11,332 residents, the monthly exposure translates to one crime occurring for roughly every 333 residents, a statistic that contextualizes the impact of crime on the local community. This monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, which would be far higher given Southwater's overall rate of 3.0 compared to the national 8.2. The stability in the overall rate, combined with the area's low crime density, reinforces the perception of Southwater as a safer environment relative to broader UK trends, though localized patterns in specific crime types still require attention.