Portishead Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Portishead's overall crime rate in May 2024 stood at 5.8 per 1,000 residents, marking a 31.0% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This figure places the built-up area well below national benchmarks, reflecting a consistently lower crime profile than the average UK locality. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 38.1% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (19.7%) and public order offences (13.6%). These patterns align with Portishead's character as a coastal commuter town with limited nightlife infrastructure, where violent crime is more likely to occur in isolated or transient settings rather than dense urban environments. Seasonal factors in May—including extended daylight hours, bank holidays, and the onset of warmer weather—likely contributed to increased outdoor socialising, which may partly explain the prominence of anti-social behaviour and public order incidents. The area's relatively low property crime rate (27.3% of total crimes) further contrasts with UK averages, suggesting effective community policing or environmental design measures in residential zones. While direct links to specific interventions, the combination of geographical isolation and a stable local population may contribute to the sustained suppression of property-related crimes compared to more densely populated areas.

Public order offences saw the most dramatic month-on-month increase, doubling from 10 to 20 cases—a 100% rise. This surge, coupled with a 100% increase in 'other crime' incidents, suggests shifting patterns in local interactions during May's extended evenings and bank holidays. While violent crime remained the largest category, its rate of 2.2 per 1,000 was 24% below the UK average for this category, consistent with Portishead's historical trend of lower interpersonal violence compared to urban centres. Conversely, public order offences (0.8 per 1,000) were 27% above the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), highlighting a localised challenge that may relate to the town's coastal tourism infrastructure and the transient nature of some visitor populations. Vehicle crime also rose by 57.1%, from 7 to 11 incidents, potentially linked to increased weekend activity and the proximity of major transport routes. Residents might find the 1-in-173 resident monthly exposure figure (based on 147 total crimes) particularly relevant when assessing local safety, though this remains significantly lower than the UK average monthly exposure of approximately 1-in-120 residents.

Portishead's crime rate in May 2024 rose 13.1% compared to April's 5.1 per 1,000.0% below the UK average. This increase occurred against a backdrop of 5 crimes reported per day on average—equivalent to roughly one reported incident every 173 residents over the course of the month. While this daily figure is lower than the UK average of approximately 7.5 crimes per day (based on UK population and rates), the 13.1% month-on-month rise suggests temporary pressures that may relate to seasonal factors. The population-scaled perspective reveals that residents face a significantly lower risk of victimisation than the UK average, with the most recent data showing Portishead's crime profile is 3.7 times safer than the national benchmark. However, the 100% increase in public order offences raises questions about whether temporary spikes in visitor numbers or local events contributed to this shift. The contrast between Portishead's consistently low property crime rates and its relatively higher public order rates underscores the importance of contextual factors, such as the town's role as a commuter hub with limited late-night retail activity compared to larger urban centres. This comparison reinforces the need for targeted interventions in public spaces without compromising the area's overall safety advantages.