Freshwater and Totland Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Freshwater and Totland, a built-up area on the Isle of Wight, recorded a crime rate of 5.5 per 1,000 in July 2023—33.7% below the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000. This stark contrast with the national figure is most pronounced in the category of violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 52.1% of all reported crimes (25 cases). This rate of 2.9 per 1,000 is 4% above the UK average for this category, highlighting a local anomaly that may be influenced by the area's seasonal dynamics. The summer months typically bring a surge in tourism, with festivals and events increasing foot traffic in public spaces. This context may help explain the relatively high proportion of violent offences compared to the UK average, where such crimes are more evenly distributed across different crime types. Anti-social behaviour, the second most common category (12.5% of total crimes), was 51% below the UK average, reflecting the area's compact, community-focused layout that may facilitate quicker police response times. Public order offences, though low in absolute numbers, saw a 150% increase from the previous month, likely tied to the peak of the tourist season. These patterns illustrate the combination of local geography and seasonal trends in shaping crime profiles, even within a generally low-crime area.

July 2023 saw a dramatic 150% increase in public order offences, rising from 2 to 5 cases. This surge may reflect the impact of summer festivals and events, which often draw larger crowds to the area. Conversely, shoplifting plummeted by 81.8%, declining from 11 to 2 cases—a drop that could be attributed to heightened retail security measures during peak tourist season. Anti-social behaviour also fell by 64.7%, from 17 to 6 cases, suggesting a possible correlation with the start of school holidays reducing youth activity in public spaces. Violent crime remained high compared to the UK average, with a rate of 2.9 per 1,000 (52.1% of total crimes), 4% above the UK's 2.8 per 1,000. Residents may find the 81.8% reduction in shoplifting particularly reassuring, as it indicates effective measures to deter theft in local businesses.

Freshwater and Totland's crime rate in July 2023 (5.5 per 1,000) marked a 31.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 8.0 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the area's seasonal rhythm, as summer tourism typically sees a shift in activity patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 reported crimes per day over the month, a figure that translates to one crime for every 181 residents over the course of July. This monthly exposure rate underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in the area compared to the UK average. With a population of 8,705, the local context suggests that community-focused policing and the area's compact, tourist-friendly layout may contribute to the reduced incidence of crime. The population-scaled perspective further illustrates that the likelihood of any individual being directly affected by crime remains low, reinforcing the area's status as a safer-than-average location within the UK.