Southwater Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

February 2024 marked an unexpected spike in 'other theft' crimes in Southwater, a built-up area within Horsham, with a 200% month-on-month increase to three incidents. This sharp rise contrasts with the overall crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents — 60.6% below the UK average of 7.1 — highlighting the area's continued position as a relatively low-risk environment. The breakdown of crimes reveals that violence and sexual offences (13 incidents) accounted for 40.6% of all reported crimes, a rate of 1.2 per 1,000 that is 52% below the UK average. This suggests that while violent crime remains a concern, its frequency is significantly lower than national trends. The seasonal context of February, a winter month with low outdoor activity, may contribute to the lower overall crime rate, though the sudden increase in theft-related offences defies typical patterns associated with this time of year. Property crimes, which make up 15.6% of all incidents (five vehicle crimes), are also below the UK average for vehicle crime (0.4 per 1,000). The area's crime profile appears to be shaped by its character as a built-up area with limited industrial presence, where community-focused policing and lower population density may play a role in maintaining low crime rates. However, the 200% surge in 'other theft' raises questions about potential transient factors, such as temporary spikes in unsecured property or changes in reporting behaviour, that may warrant further analysis.

February 2024 saw a 200% month-on-month increase in 'other theft' crimes, rising from one to three incidents — the sharpest upward movement in any category. This surge contrasts with a 75% drop in public order offences, which fell from four to one, suggesting shifting patterns in community-reported issues. While violence and sexual offences remained the most common category (accounting for 40.6% of all crimes), their rate of 1.2 per 1,000 was 52% below the UK average, a stark contrast to the 43% above average for 'other crime' (0.2 per 1,000). The absence of any violent crimes in the previous month, combined with the sudden rise in theft, raises questions about potential transient factors influencing reporting. Residents may find the 71% below-average rate for anti-social behaviour (0.3 per 1,000) particularly reassuring, though the 200% increase in other theft deserves closer attention from local authorities.

Southwater's crime rate in February 2024 rose 27.6% compared to January's 2.2 per 1,000 residents, reflecting a shift in local crime patterns. Daily crime activity averaged one incident per day across the 29-day month, a figure that contextualises the low frequency of reported incidents within the built-up area. When scaled to the population of 11,332, the monthly exposure rate indicates that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 354 residents — a statistic that underscores the relatively low risk profile of the area compared to national benchmarks. This figure, when considered alongside the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, highlights Southwater's consistent position as a low-crime locality, though the month-on-month increase suggests transient factors may have influenced reporting patterns. The absence of a national daily crime comparison means local metrics must be interpreted independently, but the 1-in-354 monthly figure provides a tangible sense of the area's safety profile for residents.