Walton-on-the-Naze Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In Walton-on-the-Naze, violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture in May 2024, accounting for 35.9% of all reported crimes. With a total crime rate of 5.8 per 1,000 residents, the area recorded 39 crimes overall—a figure that is 31% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This performance contrasts sharply with larger urban centres, where property crimes often dominate. The local profile is shaped by its coastal location, where social activity tends to cluster in specific areas, influencing crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences, at 14 cases, likely reflect the impact of longer evenings and increased outdoor drinking, a seasonal trend consistent with May’s calendar of bank holidays and warmer weather. Anti-social behaviour (6 cases) and public order offences (5 cases) followed, though both remain well below UK averages. Shoplifting and other theft-related crimes accounted for 15.4% of total incidents, a relatively small share compared to more densely populated regions where retail crime is more prevalent. The area’s low crime rate may also be influenced by its smaller population and the dispersal of residents across a wider geographic footprint, reducing opportunities for certain types of crime. However, the 61% above-average burglary rate raises questions about localized vulnerabilities, linked to vacant properties or seasonal tourism patterns. These figures illustrate a crime profile that is broadly stable, with fluctuations tied to the area’s unique seasonal rhythms and geographic characteristics.

May 2024 saw sharp increases in shoplifting (+200%), robbery (+100%), and other crime (+100%), though these remained low in absolute terms. Conversely, violence and sexual offences fell by 51.7% from April, likely reflecting a shift in social activity as the month progressed. The area’s anti-social behaviour rate (0.9 per 1,000) was 38% below the UK average, while public order offences (0.7 per 1,000) were 11% above the UK rate, suggesting localized tensions in specific venues. Burglary (0.5 per 1,000) was 61% above the UK average, an anomaly that may be linked to the area’s coastal geography, where vacant properties during the off-season could be more vulnerable. Residents might note that shoplifting incidents, though tripled, still represent a small fraction of total crimes, highlighting the area’s generally low crime profile despite these fluctuations.

Walton-on-the-Naze's crime rate in May 2024 dropped to 5.8 per 1,000 residents, a 30.3% decrease from April’s 8.3 per 1,000. This decline aligns with broader seasonal trends, as May’s longer evenings and bank holidays may have shifted social activity patterns. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of one crime per day, reflecting a low-frequency environment compared to larger urban centres. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 173 residents, a figure that underscores the relatively low exposure to crime in this coastal community. This monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, which would require a more granular breakdown to compare directly. The population context—6,740 residents—means that even small fluctuations in crime numbers can have a noticeable impact on local perceptions. The drop from April’s rate may also reflect seasonal factors, such as the winding down of spring festivals or reduced foot traffic in retail areas as the holiday season passes.