Southwater Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Southwater during May 2024 reveals a distinct pattern that suggests a balance between community dynamics and seasonal influences. With a total crime rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents—64.3% below the UK average—the area demonstrates a significantly lower risk profile than national benchmarks. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (32.4% of total incidents), followed by criminal damage and arson (29.4%) and other theft (14.7%). This distribution hints at a combination of local factors, including the area’s character as a built-up district within Horsham, which may experience higher levels of interpersonal conflict or property-related disputes. The relatively low proportion of vehicle crime (5.9%) compared to UK averages suggests that Southwater’s built environment may limit opportunities for such offences, though the 100% increase in criminal damage and arson could indicate a surge in targeted vandalism or arson incidents during May. Seasonal context also plays a role: longer evenings and increased socialising during bank holidays may have contributed to the rise in public order offences and violence, consistent with patterns observed in other similar areas during late spring. The overall profile suggests a community where property crimes are less common than violent incidents, though the sharp increase in criminal damage and arson deserves closer attention to local factors such as economic pressures or environmental triggers.

May 2024 saw significant shifts in crime patterns, with criminal damage and arson surging by 100% compared to April, rising from five to ten incidents. This increase, alongside a doubling of public order offences (from zero to two) and vehicle crime (from one to two), contrasts sharply with the 8.3% decline in violence and sexual offences and the 66.7% drop in anti-social behaviour. The 65% reduction in violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average (2.8 per 1,000) suggests that Southwater’s community may have effective local measures in place to mitigate such crimes, though the rise in property damage raises questions about unmet needs or environmental factors. Criminal damage and arson in Southwater (0.9 per 1,000) are 45% above the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), indicating a specific challenge that may require targeted interventions. For residents, the sharp increase in criminal damage and arson highlights the importance of vigilance in securing property during the spring months, when extended daylight and social activity may create conditions for such offences. The decrease in anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, could reflect successful community policing efforts or temporary reductions in alcohol-related incidents during the month.

Southwater’s crime rate in May 2024 (3.0 per 1,000) represents a 17.2% increase from the previous month’s rate of 2.6 per 1,000.3% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This upward trend from April is tempered by the area’s consistently low crime profile, with just one reported crime occurring for every 333 residents over the course of the month. On a daily basis, Southwater recorded roughly one crime per day in May, a figure that is exceptionally low compared to both regional and national standards. The population-scaled perspective reinforces the area’s safety: with 11,332 residents, the low number of incidents suggests that Southwater’s built-up environment, possibly combined with effective local policing or community engagement, creates conditions that deter most criminal activity. However, the 17.2% month-on-month increase signals a need for continued monitoring, particularly given the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson. While the overall rate remains far below UK averages, the relative change from April underscores the dynamic nature of crime patterns and the importance of contextual factors such as seasonal activity and local events in shaping monthly statistics.