Wealden Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Wealden, 3.3 crimes were reported in February 2024, placing the local authority 53.5% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This translates to a monthly exposure rate where one resident in every 303 experienced a reported crime over the course of the month. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with typically lower outdoor activity—may contribute to the observed patterns, though local factors likely play a significant role. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 31.4% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 17.2%. These figures suggest a focus on community-based issues rather than property-related crimes, which made up 38.5% of the total (212 out of 551 crimes). The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.5 per 1,000, meaning Wealden’s rate is 60% below that benchmark. This divergence may reflect local policing strategies, demographic characteristics, or environmental factors such as the area’s mix of residential and commercial zones. Anti-social behaviour, which includes disturbances and noise complaints, is 43% below the UK average, indicating effective community engagement or lower population density. The overall crime rate remains low compared to national standards, with property crimes like shoplifting and burglary occurring at rates 44–55% below UK averages. However, the seasonal lull in outdoor activity may have shifted crime patterns toward indoor or community-focused incidents, such as those captured under anti-social behaviour and violence categories.

February 2024 saw a 12.9% decrease in Wealden’s overall crime rate compared to January, falling from 3.8 to 3.3 per 1,000 residents. This decline was most pronounced in drug-related offences, which dropped by 27.8% (from 18 to 13 incidents), and vehicle crime, which fell by 26.5% (from 34 to 25). These reductions may align with seasonal factors, such as lower foot traffic during winter months or the pre-spring lull in economic activity. Conversely, bicycle theft surged by 200%, jumping from one to three incidents, while robbery and theft from the person both doubled—though these remained low in absolute terms. The crime mix shifted slightly toward violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 31.4% of all crimes, compared to the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000 (60% below). Anti-social behaviour, at 0.6 per 1,000, was 43% below the UK average of 1.1 per 1,000, suggesting that community-focused policing or local initiatives may be effective. For residents, the most immediate concern appears to be the sharp rise in bicycle theft, which could indicate a need for increased security measures in areas where cycling is common. Meanwhile, the sustained low rates of vehicle crime and drug-related offences may reflect broader socioeconomic trends or successful crime prevention efforts.

Wealden’s February 2024 crime rate of 3.3 per 1,000 residents marked a 12.9% decline from the previous month’s rate of 3.8 per 1,000, indicating a continued downward trend. On a daily basis, the local authority recorded approximately 19 crimes per day in February, a figure that provides context for residents assessing their personal risk. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 303 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. This statistic underscores Wealden’s position as a relatively safe area, though this is a local measure and does not account for regional variations in population density or policing resources. The area’s population of 166,908 means that the crime rate is distributed across a large number of households, which may contribute to the lower per-capita risk compared to more densely populated urban centres. While the overall crime rate remains well below the UK average, the distribution of specific crime types—such as the higher proportion of violence and sexual offences—suggests that local factors, including community dynamics or environmental conditions, may influence crime patterns differently than in other parts of the country.