Lewes Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2024, Lewes recorded a crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it 25.9% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. The balance between property and violent crimes reveals a nuanced picture: violent crimes (209 incidents) slightly outpaced property crimes (215 incidents), though both remained significantly below national averages. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 34.1% of all crimes, with a rate of 2.0 per 1,000 — 25% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour followed at 14.9%, with a rate 30% below the UK average. The seasonal context of October, marked by darker evenings and Halloween, likely contributed to patterns in anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Shoplifting, at 12.7% of total crimes, showed a 7.1% monthly decline, possibly reflecting seasonal retail activity patterns. While property crimes remained stable, the dominance of violent crimes over property crimes suggests a shift in crime dynamics that may relate to local demographics or social factors. The lower-than-average rates across most categories indicate a generally safer environment compared to the UK, though specific incidents like bicycle theft and drug-related crimes show local vulnerabilities requiring targeted attention.

Month-on-month analysis reveals sharp contrasts in crime trends. Bicycle theft surged by 100% to 4 incidents, a stark increase that may reflect seasonal patterns or changes in local infrastructure. Drug-related crimes rose by 71.4% to 12 incidents, a significant jump that could indicate evolving challenges in community policing. Robbery incidents increased by 50% to 3, though this remains a small proportion of total crimes. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 12.5% to 91 incidents, linked to targeted interventions or seasonal changes in public activity. Shoplifting decreased by 7.1% to 78 incidents, due to reduced retail footfall in October compared to busier months. The balance between property and violent crimes shows a narrow margin: property crimes (215) and violent crimes (209) were nearly equal, with neither category dominating the monthly tally. This parity contrasts with UK averages, where property crimes typically outnumber violent crimes. Shoplifting (0.8 per 1,000) was 11% above the UK average, while anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) was 30% below. These variations highlight both local strengths and areas requiring focused policing strategies.

Lewes' crime rate in October 2024 (6.0 per 1,000) showed minimal change from the previous month's 5.9 per 1,000, indicating overall stability. Daily crime figures reveal 20 incidents per day on average, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure of one reported crime for every 167 residents. This rate, while low, underscores the persistent presence of crime in daily life. When compared to the UK average, Lewes' performance is better: its violent crime rate (2.0 per 1,000) is 25% below the national average for this category, and anti-social behaviour (0.9 per 1,000) is 30% below. However, shoplifting remains an area of concern, with rates 11% above the UK average. The population-scaled perspective shows that while Lewes is generally safer than the UK average, specific crime types like bicycle theft and drug-related incidents require targeted attention. For residents, the daily crime count serves as a practical indicator of local risk, though the low overall rate suggests that most residents are unlikely to experience crime directly. The stability in the monthly rate compared to September reinforces the idea that Lewes has maintained a consistent level of safety, even as specific crime categories fluctuated.