Wealden Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Wealden’s crime profile in September 2023, accounting for 36.3% of all reported crimes. At 4.1 per 1,000 residents, the area’s overall crime rate remains 48.8% below the UK average of 8.0, a gap that reflects both effective policing and the area’s social fabric. The dominance of violent crime—246 incidents—suggests a focus on interpersonal conflicts, potentially influenced by the return of students and the start of the academic year. Anti-social behaviour (15.2% of all crimes) and criminal damage and arson (10.6%) followed closely, though both categories showed substantial underperformance relative to UK averages. Seasonal factors likely played a role in these patterns: the onset of September, with its back-to-school dynamics and shorter evenings, may have increased opportunities for conflicts in public spaces. While violent crime remains the primary concern, the relatively low rates of property crime—such as burglary (4.9%) and shoplifting (4.0%)—suggest that Wealden’s suburban and rural character, with its lower population density and dispersed communities, may act as a natural deterrent to such offences. The data also highlights the significance of anti-social behaviour, which, though lower than the UK average, may indicate challenges in managing community cohesion during transitional periods. These findings align with Wealden’s broader profile as a district where crime remains a secondary concern to most residents, with the local environment and seasonal rhythms shaping the crime picture more than national trends.

September 2023 saw a striking 300% increase in theft from the person, rising from 2 to 8 incidents. This sharp rise, though still low in absolute terms, may partly reflect the influx of students and new residents during the start of the academic year. Bicycle theft also doubled, with four reported cases—though this remains well below the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 34.9% (from 43 to 28), a decline consistent with seasonal patterns as evenings grow shorter and outdoor activity diminishes. Robbery incidents dropped by 40%, from five to three, a decrease that aligns with broader trends in violent crime. The rate of violence and sexual offences—accounting for 36.3% of all crimes—remained 45% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. These figures highlight a combination of local demographics and seasonal factors, with anti-social behaviour and criminal damage also showing significant declines compared to national rates.

Wealden's crime rate in September 2023 dropped to 4.1 per 1,000 residents, a 12.3% decrease from the previous month’s 4.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader trend of reduced crime activity across the area, though the rate remains significantly lower than the UK average. On a daily basis, approximately 23 crimes were reported each day in September, a figure that translates to a local context of one reported crime occurring for roughly every 247 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in Wealden compared to both national benchmarks and the previous month. The population context further highlights that, despite the absolute number of crimes (677), the rate per capita remains well below the UK average, suggesting that Wealden’s social and geographic characteristics—potentially including a mix of suburban and rural landscapes—contribute to its lower crime profile. These figures, when viewed alongside the month-on-month decline, illustrate a district where crime remains a minor concern for most residents.