Barton on Sea Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Barton on Sea’s February 2024 crime rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents—84.5% below the UK average—reveals a striking imbalance between property and violent crime. Property-related offences, including criminal damage and arson (3 incidents) and other theft (1 incident), accounted for 50% of total crimes, while violent crimes (3 incidents) made up the remaining 50%. This near-equal split contrasts with broader UK trends, where property crimes typically dominate but at much higher rates. The seasonal context of February—a winter month marked by reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may partly explain the low overall rate, as well as the relative absence of violent crime compared to busier periods. However, the prominence of property crimes suggests factors unique to Barton on Sea’s built-up area within the New Forest. As a small, rural-adjacent community with limited urban density, the area may lack the high-traffic commercial hubs or nightlife that often drive more frequent violent or theft-related incidents. The low rate of criminal damage and arson, despite being a winter month, could also reflect the community’s resilience or the effectiveness of local deterrence measures. Overall, the data illustrates a tranquil, low-crime environment where property-related concerns are the primary focus, rather than violent crime.

February 2024 saw distinct shifts in crime patterns, with public order offences rising by 100% (from 0 to 1 incident) and criminal damage and arson increasing by 50% (from 2 to 3 incidents). These changes, though modest in absolute terms, highlight a shift in the crime mix, with property-related offences (4 total) slightly outpacing violent crimes (3 total). Violent crimes in Barton on Sea were 84% below the UK average (0.4 vs 2.5 per 1,000), while criminal damage and arson were 26% below the UK average (0.4 vs 0.5 per 1,000). The decrease in other theft (from 2 to 1 incident) suggests a possible seasonal reduction in petty crime, consistent with the winter lull in outdoor activity. For residents, the low overall rate—paired with the absence of significant spikes—reinforces the area’s safety profile, even as minor fluctuations in specific categories are noted.

Barton on Sea’s crime rate in February 2024 (1.1 per 1,000 residents) marks a 20.4% decline from the previous month’s rate of 1.4 per 1,000. This downward trend aligns with seasonal patterns typical of winter months, when outdoor activity wanes and community engagement may shift indoors. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 914 residents—a figure that underscores the area’s consistently low crime profile relative to its population size. Daily crime statistics further illustrate this trend: 8 total crimes over 29 days equate to approximately 0 crimes per day, a stark contrast to the UK’s average daily crime rate. While the local population of 7,309 residents is relatively small, the low crime exposure per capita reinforces Barton on Sea’s status as a low-risk area, particularly when compared to larger urban centres where crime rates are significantly higher. This context is critical for residents and visitors, as it provides a clear benchmark for understanding the safety of the built-up area within the New Forest.