Portsmouth Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For a city of 214,321 residents, Portsmouth recorded 2,270 crimes in October 2023, equating to a crime rate of 10.6 per 1,000 people — 32.5% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This places the area in a higher bracket compared to national trends, though local conditions may explain the discrepancy. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 39.4% of all incidents (895 crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (10.2%) and public order offences (9.6%). These figures align with patterns seen in other major urban centres, where high population density and socioeconomic factors often correlate with elevated rates of violent crime. Seasonal factors may also play a role: October’s darker evenings, coupled with Halloween-related activity, could contribute to increased incidents of anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Property crimes, though lower in share (35.1% of total), still represented 797 reported incidents, with shoplifting and vehicle crime standing out as significant subcategories. The city’s coastal location and historical presence of nightlife districts may explain the disproportionate prevalence of violent crime compared to other UK areas, though further analysis would be needed to confirm this connection.

October saw notable shifts in crime patterns compared to September, with bicycle theft rising by 24.2% (from 33 to 41 incidents) — a figure that could reflect increased cycling during darker evenings or targeted thefts near transport hubs. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson increased by 18.0% (from 150 to 177), potentially linked to seasonal property maintenance or vandalism spikes during autumn. Robbery also rose by 13.8% (29 to 33), though this may be an anomaly given the small absolute numbers. Conversely, burglary dropped by nearly 30% (from 77 to 54), due to improved security measures or seasonal changes in property occupancy. Anti-social behaviour fell by 9.7% (from 257 to 232), though this remains above the UK average by 14%. Violence and sexual offences, which constitute 39.4% of all crimes, are 56% above the UK average — a stark divergence that may reflect local socioeconomic challenges or concentrated hotspots within the city. Residents may find the 55% above-average rate for shoplifting (0.9 per 1,000) particularly relevant, as this category is often tied to retail areas and foot traffic patterns.

Portsmouth’s crime rate in October 2023 (10.6 per 1,000) was stable compared to September’s 10.7 per 1,000, indicating little month-on-month fluctuation. Translating this into daily terms, the city experienced approximately 73 crimes per day — a figure that, while high, is consistent with other large urban areas. On a population scale, this means one reported crime occurred for roughly every 94 residents over the course of the month. For context, this monthly exposure rate is significantly higher than the UK average, which would equate to one crime per 125 residents in a similarly sized population. The city’s 214,321 residents, spread across both urban and coastal zones, may contribute to this disparity, as densely populated areas typically report higher crime rates. While the overall rate remained stable, the breakdown of crime types revealed striking contrasts: for instance, possession of weapons was 186% above the UK average (0.2 per 1,000), suggesting localized issues that may require targeted interventions. Conversely, burglary was 12% below the UK average (0.3 per 1,000), reflecting effective policing strategies or community initiatives in residential areas.