Lewes Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Lewes, a historic market town in East Sussex, recorded a crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents in June 2023, placing it 29.4% below the UK average of 8.5. This performance reflects a combination of local characteristics and seasonal dynamics. The area's crime profile is dominated by violence and sexual offences (36% of total crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (19%) and criminal damage and arson (11%). These patterns align with Lewes' mix of residential, commercial, and tourist spaces, where social interactions in public areas may contribute to higher rates of violent incidents. The summer season, with its longer days and increased foot traffic, likely influenced these figures, though the overall rate remains significantly lower than national benchmarks. Lewes' violent crime rate (2.2 per 1,000) is 25% below the UK average, suggesting effective community engagement or policing strategies in high-traffic zones. Property crimes, while lower than violent offences, remain a concern, with shoplifting and burglary accounting for nearly 10% of total incidents. The absence of major spikes in theft from the person or vehicle crime may indicate that Lewes' compact layout and community-focused approach help deter such offences. Seasonal factors, such as the start of the tourist season in nearby coastal areas, could also influence local crime patterns, though these effects appear moderated by Lewes' relatively stable environment.

June 2023 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories, with burglary rates surging 150% compared to May, rising from 12 to 30 incidents. This increase, while significant, remains below the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000 (Lewes: 0.3 per 1,000). The sharp rise in burglaries may reflect summer-related trends, such as increased home leave during school holidays or temporary occupancy of properties. Concurrently, possession of weapons offences doubled, rising from 3 to 6 cases, a 100% increase. This spike, though small in absolute terms, is 25% above the UK average and warrants attention, though can be inferred from the data. Conversely, public order offences dropped by 20%, from 75 to 60, linked to the start of summer and reduced evening gatherings. Other thefts also decreased by 16.2%, aligning with broader national trends of reduced retail theft during warmer months. The town's violent crime rate, though remaining the largest category, is 25% below the UK average, suggesting that local initiatives or community cohesion may play a role in mitigating severe incidents. Residents may find the 20 daily crime rate (based on June's 611 total crimes) a useful benchmark for understanding local safety, though this figure is context-specific to Lewes and should not be compared to national averages.

Lewes' crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 in June 2023 remained stable compared to the previous month, with a 0.3% change, indicating consistent patterns over time. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 20 crimes per day, a local metric that does not directly compare to UK-wide figures. When contextualised by population, this translates to one reported crime for roughly every 168 residents over the course of the month—a monthly exposure rate that is lower than many UK areas. This figure provides a tangible sense of risk for residents, though it should be interpreted alongside Lewes' unique characteristics. The town's compact layout and mix of residential and commercial zones may contribute to its relatively low crime rates compared to larger urban centres. For instance, Lewes' anti-social behaviour rate (1.1 per 1,000) is 26% below the UK average, suggesting that community policing or local initiatives may help manage public order. The town's performance in categories like vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000, 57% below UK average) also highlights the impact of geographical factors—Lewes' limited industrial zones and car-centric infrastructure may reduce opportunities for such offences. However, the 25% above UK average for 'other crime' (0.2 per 1,000) indicates a need for further analysis of less common incidents, though the exact nature of these crimes is not specified in the data.