Sheringham Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Sheringham during May 2023 reveals a distinct pattern shaped by local dynamics and seasonal rhythms. Violent crimes, including sexual offences, accounted for 40.7% of all reported incidents, making them the most prevalent category. This contrasts with property crimes, which represented 14.8% of the total, and anti-social behaviour at 18.5%. Despite the dominance of violent crimes, Sheringham’s overall crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents remains 52.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This divergence suggests a combination of geographic factors, including Sheringham’s status as a coastal town with a smaller, more tightly knit population, which may reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The seasonal context of May—characterised by bank holidays, extended daylight hours, and increased outdoor socialising—likely contributes to the prominence of violence and public order offences. Longer evenings in coastal areas often correlate with higher alcohol consumption and public gatherings, which can elevate incidents of anti-social behaviour and disputes. However, the relatively low crime rate compared to national averages indicates effective community policing or lower exposure to risk factors common in larger urban centres. The data also highlights a notable imbalance in the types of crime reported: while violent offences dominate, property crimes remain low. This may reflect Sheringham’s limited commercial density and the absence of high-traffic retail hubs that typically drive shoplifting or burglary. The seasonal spike in public order offences, which rose sharply from two to four incidents, aligns with the increased social activity typical of May. These patterns underscore the importance of contextualising crime statistics within both local geography and temporal factors, rather than viewing them in isolation.

May 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with public order offences doubling from two to four incidents—a 100% increase. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in burglary cases (from zero to four), highlights a shift in the crime mix compared to the previous month. Burglary, in particular, stood out as the only category in Sheringham exceeding the UK average, with a rate of 0.6 per 1,000 residents compared to the national figure of 0.3 per 1,000. This anomaly may be attributed to seasonal factors, such as increased home occupancy during May or targeted activity in residential areas. Conversely, violence and sexual offences decreased by 15.4% (from 13 to 11), suggesting a possible reduction in conflict-related incidents during the month. The drop in criminal damage and arson by two-thirds (from six to two) could be linked to the absence of major events or festivals that might otherwise spur vandalism. The rate of violence and sexual offences in Sheringham (1.6 per 1,000) is 42% below the UK average, illustrating the area’s relative safety in this category. For residents, the sharp increase in burglary cases serves as a concrete reminder to maintain security measures, particularly during periods of heightened activity. These changes underscore the need for targeted community awareness around property crime, even as broader trends indicate a safer environment overall.

Sheringham’s crime rate in May 2023 fell slightly to 3.8 per 1,000 residents, a 3.5% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 4.0 per 1,000. This modest decline aligns with broader trends observed in smaller communities where crime rates tend to fluctuate more sharply than in larger urban areas. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while low, reflects the small population of 7,031 residents. When scaled to the monthly exposure, this equates to one reported crime for roughly every 260 residents—a statistic that, while not immediately alarming, provides context for local residents assessing their personal risk. Compared to the UK average, Sheringham’s overall crime rate remains significantly lower, but the disparity is not uniform across categories. For instance, while violence and sexual offences are well below the national average, burglary stands out as an exception, with a rate 94% above the UK figure. This contrast suggests that local factors, such as the density of residential properties or the presence of unsecured homes, may contribute to the anomaly. The previous month’s rate of 4.0 per 1,000, though slightly higher, demonstrates the volatility of crime statistics in smaller areas where even minor changes can have a pronounced impact. For residents, these figures highlight the importance of focusing on specific risk factors—such as burglary prevention—rather than assuming uniform safety across all crime types. The relatively low daily crime count and monthly exposure further reinforce the notion that Sheringham, despite its coastal charm, is not a high-risk area in terms of overall crime prevalence.