Marchwood Crime Rate February 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Marchwood, there were 5 reported crimes in February 2025, marking a 25.4% reduction compared to the UK average of 6.7 per 1,000. This places the area among the safer built-up zones within the New Forest, where rural surroundings likely contribute to lower overall crime exposure. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences (48.3% of total), followed by criminal damage and arson (13.8%) and other theft (10.3%). These figures align with the area's seasonal context: February, a winter month with limited outdoor activity, may see reduced opportunities for certain crimes while concentrating others in indoor spaces or localised incidents. The proportion of violent crimes (2.4 per 1,000) matches the UK average, suggesting no significant deviation in this category. However, criminal damage and arson (0.7 per 1,000) exceed the UK rate by 46%, potentially reflecting targeted property issues in the built-up area. The relatively low rate of anti-social behaviour (0.3 per 1,000, 69% below UK average) may indicate community cohesion or effective local policing. As a semi-rural enclave, Marchwood's crime profile contrasts with larger urban centres, where property crimes often dominate. The seasonal lull in outdoor activity could also explain the lower burglary rate (0.3 per 1,000) compared to UK averages. Residents may perceive a tangible sense of safety, with daily life rarely interrupted by crime, though targeted incidents in specific areas remain a concern.

February 2025 witnessed a 300% surge in criminal damage and arson cases, rising from 1 to 4 incidents. This spike, though still low in absolute terms, may signal seasonal factors or specific local triggers. Concurrently, drug-related crimes and possession of weapons both doubled compared to January, suggesting a possible shift in criminal activity patterns. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences each dropped by two-thirds, potentially linked to reduced foot traffic during winter or improved community engagement. Violence and sexual offences maintained their proportion of total crimes (48.3%), consistent with the UK average despite the overall rate being below national levels. The area's burglary rate (0.3 per 1,000) remains slightly above the UK average (0.3 per 1,000), though the absolute number (2 cases) is modest. For residents, the most immediate insight is the sharp increase in criminal damage: with four incidents reported, this represents a significant jump from the previous month. Such concentrated activity might prompt local authorities to review property security measures or investigate potential causes, though can be inferred from the data alone.

February 2025 marked a 14.6% decrease in Marchwood's crime rate compared to January, falling from 5.8 to 5.0 per 1,000 residents. This monthly decline aligns with the typical seasonal pattern observed in semi-rural areas, where winter months often see reduced outdoor activity and fewer opportunities for crime. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 1 reported crime per day over the 28-day period, a figure that translates to a 1-in-202 resident likelihood of encountering a crime during the month. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, which typically sees higher daily crime frequencies in more densely populated regions. Considering Marchwood's population of 5,851, the 29 reported crimes represent a relatively low level of risk for individual residents, though the concentrated nature of certain crimes—such as the four instances of criminal damage and arson—suggests targeted vulnerabilities. The comparison to the UK average underscores the area's relative safety, particularly in categories like anti-social behaviour (69% below UK levels) and public order offences (32% below). These disparities may reflect the community's characteristics, with the New Forest's semi-rural environment potentially fostering stronger social cohesion or more effective local policing. Residents are likely to perceive their daily risk as minimal, with most crimes occurring in isolated incidents rather than widespread patterns.