Portsmouth Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Portsmouth's crime profile in May 2023 reveals a stark imbalance between violent and property crime, with violent offences accounting for 39.1% of all reported incidents compared to 33.4% for property crimes. This divergence may partly explain the area's overall crime rate of 12.7 per 1,000 residents — 58.7% above the UK average of 8.0. Violence and sexual offences (1,064 incidents) emerged as the most prevalent category, more than doubling the UK average rate of 2.8 per 1,000. This pattern could reflect the city's urban character, where public spaces and longer evenings during May's bank holidays may amplify social interactions in areas like the historic docks or waterfront districts. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences followed closely, with the latter 112% above the UK average, linked to increased outdoor drinking and socialising as warmer weather sets in. Meanwhile, property crimes such as shoplifting (1.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.7 per 1,000) remained elevated, though not as dramatically as violent offences. Seasonal factors — including extended daylight hours and public holidays — likely contribute to the heightened activity in both violent and disorder-related crimes, though the dominance of violence suggests broader socio-economic or environmental pressures may be at play.

May 2023 saw sharp increases in robbery (+50.0% to 45 incidents), drugs (+35.0% to 81 incidents), and possession of weapons (+21.9% to 39 incidents). These rises contrast with declines in burglary (-41.4% to 51 incidents) and theft from the person (-23.1% to 10 incidents), which may reflect seasonal shifts in criminal activity. The violent crime category, already 80% above the UK average, saw a particularly pronounced spike in violence and sexual offences (5.0 per 1,000), a figure that dwarfs the national average of 2.8 per 1,000. Shoplifting also surged to 1.2 per 1,000 — 145% above the UK rate — potentially driven by increased foot traffic in retail areas during May. The property crime share of total incidents (33.4%) lagged behind violent crimes (39.1%), a balance that could indicate heightened tensions in public spaces or challenges in addressing non-violent crime types. Residents may find the 50% rise in robbery particularly concerning, as it suggests a shift in criminal focus toward personal gain amid the month's social dynamics.

Portsmouth's crime rate in May 2023 rose 11.3% compared to April's 11.4 per 1,000, reaching 12.7 per 1,000 — a figure that translates to roughly 88 crimes reported each day. This daily rate provides a tangible sense of the city's ongoing security challenges, though it remains a local metric without a direct UK counterpart. On a monthly scale, one reported crime occurred for every 79 residents, a statistic that underscores the frequency of incidents within the area's population of 214,321. While this exposure rate is higher than many UK regions, it aligns with Portsmouth's status as a major urban centre with a mix of historical sites, commercial hubs, and residential areas. The decline in burglary, despite the overall rate increase, suggests targeted interventions or seasonal factors may have curbed this category. However, the persistent gap between Portsmouth's violent crime rate and the UK average — particularly in categories like public order (112% above) and drugs (90% above) — highlights systemic differences that could relate to the city's demographics, economic conditions, or policing strategies.