Marske-by-the-Sea Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Marske-by-the-Sea’s crime rate in February 2024 stood at 5.3 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 25.4% below the UK average of 7.1. This relatively low rate is driven by a distinct crime profile, with shoplifting and violence each accounting for 31.6% of reported incidents. The area’s seasonal context—February as a winter month with reduced outdoor activity—may partly explain the distribution of crimes, though the sharp rise in shoplifting suggests other factors are at play. The town’s built-up character, likely shaped by its coastal location and smaller population, contributes to a crime picture where property-related offences dominate. While violent crime remains 32% below the UK average, the significant increase in shoplifting raises questions about local retail vulnerabilities. The area’s low overall crime rate, combined with its unique demographic and geographic traits, positions it as a comparatively safer locale within the UK, though targeted spikes in specific categories warrant attention. This pattern aligns with broader trends in similar coastal towns, where seasonal fluctuations and localized economic factors often influence crime dynamics.

February 2024 saw a dramatic 300% increase in shoplifting, with 12 incidents reported—tripling the previous month’s total. This surge, which brings the rate to 1.7 per 1,000 residents, is 215% above the UK average for the category and likely reflects seasonal shopping patterns or targeted retail activity in the area. Concurrently, other theft and robbery both doubled, with three and one incidents respectively. The sharp rise in shoplifting contrasts with a 75% drop in public order offences, which fell from four to one. This shift may indicate a seasonal lull in outdoor activity, consistent with February’s typically low foot traffic in coastal towns. Residents should be particularly vigilant in retail zones, as shoplifting now constitutes over a third of all crimes reported, a significant departure from January’s profile.

The crime rate in Marske-by-the-Sea for February 2024 rose 15.3% compared to the previous month, moving from 4.6 to 5.3 crimes per 1,000 residents. While this remains 25.4% below the UK average of 7.1, the upward trend signals a need for vigilance. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day over the 29-day period, a figure that, while low, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents. Monthly exposure data shows that over the course of February, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 190 residents—a statistic that, when contextualised against the local population of 7,216, underscores the relatively low frequency of crime. However, the shift from January to February highlights the volatility of crime patterns in smaller communities, where even modest increases can be significant. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Marske-by-the-Sea’s crime profile remains distinct from national trends, with property-related offences driving much of the activity despite a broader decline in violent crime compared to the UK average.