Sheerness Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2024, Sheerness’ crime rate of 16.6 per 1,000 residents marked a 104.9% increase over the UK average of 8.1, highlighting a pronounced divergence from national trends. The data reveals a stark imbalance between property and violent crime, with the latter accounting for 42.9% of all reported incidents — a figure that is 166% above the UK average. Violence and sexual offences were the most prevalent category, followed by anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. This dominance of violent crime over property crime may reflect seasonal dynamics, such as the impact of darker evenings and Halloween on community activity and policing visibility. The area’s built-up nature within Swale, a coastal district, likely contributes to this pattern, with factors such as transient populations or socioeconomic conditions potentially exacerbating tensions. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage also showed significant deviations from the UK average, with rates 86% and 290% higher respectively — figures that may indicate challenges in managing public spaces or addressing underlying community issues. While property crime remained a concern, its relatively lower share compared to violent crime suggests that local strategies targeting interpersonal conflict or public order may require revisiting. The seasonal context of October — including the clocks going back and the onset of colder weather — may also have influenced crime patterns, with darker evenings correlating with increased incidents of violence and disorder. These findings underscore the need for a nuanced approach to crime prevention that accounts for both the area’s unique characteristics and the seasonal rhythms that shape its crime profile.

Violent crime dominated Sheerness’ October 2024 crime profile, accounting for 42.9% of all reported incidents — a figure that is 166% above the UK average. This stark contrast with property crimes (7.3%) suggests a shift in criminal activity patterns, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as darker evenings and the approach of Halloween. Among the most notable month-on-month changes, possession of weapons surged by 300%, rising from one to four incidents, while drugs-related crimes doubled from two to six. These increases may reflect broader trends in criminal behaviour during October, though local context — such as the presence of transient populations or economic pressures — could also contribute. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 30.4% compared to the previous month, due to Halloween-related retail activity or targeted policing efforts. The violent crime rate’s significant deviation from the UK average underscores the area’s unique challenges, which may be tied to its coastal location and the dynamics of its built-up environment.

Sheerness’ crime rate in October 2024 rose to 16.6 per 1,000 residents, a 3.8% increase from the previous month’s 16.0. This places the area significantly above the UK average, which stands at 8.1 per 1,000. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 60 residents — a monthly exposure that underscores the frequency of incidents within a relatively small population of 13,168. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly seven crimes per day, a figure that, while localised, offers a tangible sense of the pace at which incidents occur. This daily rate may be influenced by factors such as seasonal transitions, with October’s darker evenings potentially extending opportunities for certain types of crime. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the disproportionate impact of crime in Sheerness compared to the UK average, suggesting that localised factors — such as demographic composition or geographic characteristics — may be playing a role in sustaining higher rates.