Weybourne (Waverley) Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 presented an unexpected twist in Weybourne (Waverley)’s crime profile, marked by a dramatic rise in violent offences. Despite the area’s overall crime rate (3.8 per 1,000) remaining 46.5% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, the month saw a 162.5% increase in violence and sexual offences — the most significant monthly jump in the area’s recorded history. This surge, from 8 to 21 incidents, defied typical December patterns, which usually see a decline in violent crime due to the closure of businesses and reduced foot traffic. The seasonal context of December — with its dark evenings, empty homes over the holidays, and the pressures of Christmas shopping — likely contributed to this anomaly. However, a direct causal link; the rise in violence could also reflect underreporting during the previous months or the influence of transient populations during the festive season. The top crime types in December were violence and sexual offences (47.7% of total crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (15.9%) and shoplifting (9.1%). While property crimes remained low, the dominance of violent offences over property-related crimes highlights a shift in the area’s crime mix. This contrasts with the usual balance, where property crimes typically constitute a larger share. The low levels of shoplifting (0.3 per 1,000) and other theft (0.2 per 1,000), both significantly below UK averages, suggest that local retail areas may have effective security measures in place. However, the unexpected rise in violent crime raises questions about the need for targeted interventions, particularly in areas with high foot traffic during the holiday season.

The most striking shift in December 2024 was the 162.5% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 8 to 21 incidents. This surge, which outpaced all other crime categories, contrasts sharply with the area’s usual low levels of violent crime. Concurrently, robbery and drugs offences each appeared for the first time in the month, with 1 incident recorded in each category — a 100% increase from November. This unexpected emergence of these crimes may be linked to the seasonal context of December, including the closure of some retail outlets and increased alcohol consumption during festive events. Conversely, other theft and criminal damage and arson both decreased by 60% and 50% respectively, suggesting that some crime prevention measures — such as increased patrols or community engagement — may have had a temporary impact. The area’s violent crime rate (1.8 per 1,000) remains 30% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, while anti-social behaviour (0.6 per 1,000) is 36% below the national figure of 0.9 per 1,000. These disparities highlight the effectiveness of local initiatives in curbing certain types of crime, even as others see unexpected spikes.

Weybourne (Waverley) recorded a crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 in December 2024, marking a 42.3% increase from the previous month’s rate of 2.7 per 1,000. This upward shift, though modest in absolute terms, underscores the volatility of crime patterns in the area. Daily crime statistics reveal that on average, one crime was reported per day in December — a figure that, while low, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents in a built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 265 residents, a monthly exposure rate that aligns with the area’s small population of 11,678. When scaled to the local context, this suggests that while the area remains relatively safe compared to the UK average, the population’s awareness of crime may be heightened by the sudden rise in violent incidents. The comparison to the UK average crime rate (7.1 per 1,000) further highlights Weybourne’s status as a low-crime locality, with property crimes and violent offences both significantly below national benchmarks. However, the month-on-month increase raises questions about whether seasonal factors — such as the closure of businesses during the holidays — may have disrupted usual patterns of activity and crime prevention.