Hythe and Dibden Purlieu Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Hythe and Dibden Purlieu's crime rate in October 2024 stood at 5.5 per 1,000 residents, 32.1% below the UK average of 8.1. This marked disparity from national figures underscores the area's unique characteristics as a built-up zone within the New Forest, where low population density and strong community ties may contribute to its comparatively safe environment. The most prevalent category of crime was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 45.1% of all reported incidents—2.5 per 1,000 residents, 6% below the UK average of 2.7. This suggests that while violence remains a concern, its incidence is lower than expected for an area of this size. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.7 per 1,000, was 46% below the UK average, reflecting the area's generally orderly public spaces. The seasonal context of October—marked by shorter days, the clocks going back, and the approach of Halloween—likely contributed to fluctuations in crime patterns, particularly in anti-social behaviour and vehicle-related incidents. The area's burglary rate of 0.4 per 1,000 was 21% above the UK average of 0.3, an outlier that warrants further exploration given the area's overall low crime profile. This discrepancy may be explained by the presence of residential properties in the built-up area, which could be more vulnerable to targeted crime despite the region's broader safety record.

October saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime surging by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents) and anti-social behaviour tripling (from 5 to 15). This sharp rise in anti-social behaviour may be linked to the transition to British Summer Time and the approach of Halloween, which often correlates with increased public disorder. Burglary also doubled from 4 to 8 incidents, a rate 21% above the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This anomaly contrasts with the area's generally low crime profile, suggesting a potential shift in criminal activity patterns. Meanwhile, shoplifting fell by 30% (from 10 to 7), possibly reflecting seasonal retail patterns or effective local policing. The breakdown of crimes highlights a stark divergence from the UK average: while violent crime rates are 6% below the national figure, burglary rates are higher, indicating a need for targeted local interventions.

Hythe and Dibden Purlieu's crime rate in October 2024 rose by 23.3% compared to the previous month, moving from 4.4 to 5.5 per 1,000 residents. This upward shift, though modest, reflects a localised trend that may be influenced by seasonal factors such as reduced daylight hours and Halloween-related activity. Daily crime figures show an average of four crimes reported each day in October, a rate consistent with the area's historically low overall crime profile. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 184 residents, a figure that places the area well below the UK average for monthly exposure. When scaled to the population of 20,385, this suggests that residents face a lower risk of experiencing crime compared to the national average, despite the month-on-month increase. The population context further reinforces that crime remains relatively rare in this built-up area of the New Forest, where low population density and community cohesion may contribute to the area's safer profile.