Heathfield (Wealden) Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2024, Heathfield (Wealden) recorded 15 crimes across a population of 8,182 residents, translating to a crime rate of 1.8 per 1,000 people. This figure is 74.6% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, a disparity that highlights the area’s relatively low exposure to crime. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 8 incidents (53.3% of total crimes) at a rate of 1.0 per 1,000. This rate is 61% below the UK average for the same category, suggesting that local factors such as community policing or demographic characteristics may contribute to this lower level. Possession of weapons, though a smaller proportion of total crimes (13.3%), was 233% above the UK average, an outlier that may reflect specific incidents or enforcement trends. Shoplifting and criminal damage and arson each contributed 13.3% of total crimes but remained 65% and 62% below UK averages, respectively. The seasonal context of December—marked by Christmas shopping, dark evenings, and the potential for empty homes during the holiday period—may have influenced crime patterns, though the overall rate remains significantly lower than national benchmarks. This suggests that while seasonal factors can impact local crime dynamics, Heathfield’s built-up area within Wealden appears to maintain a safer profile compared to the UK as a whole.

December 2024 saw a sharp increase in possession of weapons, rising by 100% to 2 incidents from 0 in the previous month. This category was 233% above the UK average rate of 0.1 per 1,000, a stark contrast to other categories like shoplifting, which remained 65% below the UK average. Meanwhile, public order offences fell by 50%, and criminal damage and arson also decreased by 50%, likely reflecting seasonal patterns such as reduced outdoor activity during darker evenings. Violence and sexual offences, though still the most common category (8 incidents, 53.3% of total), dropped by 27.3% from November, suggesting a possible shift in crime dynamics. The area’s violent crime rate of 1.0 per 1,000 is 61% below the UK average, illustrating a marked divergence from national trends. Residents may find the 74.6% reduction in overall crime compared to the UK average particularly noteworthy, though local factors such as community cohesion or policing strategies could partly explain this gap.

Heathfield (Wealden) recorded 15 crimes in December 2024, a 51.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 3.8 per 1,000 residents. This brings the current crime rate to 1.8 per 1,000, significantly below the UK average of 7.1. On a daily basis, the area saw roughly 0 crimes reported over the 31-day period, highlighting the low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. When scaled to the local population of 8,182, this equates to one reported crime for every 545 residents over the course of the month. While this monthly exposure figure does not directly compare to UK-wide statistics, it underscores the relatively low risk residents face compared to national trends. The drop from November to December may reflect seasonal factors, such as reduced foot traffic in public spaces during the Christmas period or increased community vigilance. However, the persistent gap between Heathfield’s rate and the UK average suggests broader geographic or demographic differences, such as the area’s smaller size, lower population density, or local initiatives that may contribute to crime prevention.