Wealden Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Wealden's crime rate for November 2024 stood at 4.0 per 1,000 residents, marking a 47.4% deficit compared to the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. This figure positions the area as one of the safest in the country, with crime levels consistently below the national benchmark. Violence and sexual offences constituted the largest share of reported crimes, accounting for 34.5% of the total (231 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (14.6%) and vehicle crime (10.2%). These patterns may partly reflect the area's character as a largely rural district with limited urban density, where property crime and public disorder are less prevalent than in major cities. Seasonal factors in November—such as the darkness of evening hours, the timing of Bonfire Night, and the early start of Black Friday shopping—likely contributed to fluctuations in specific crime types. While violent crime remains a notable category, its rate (1.4 per 1,000) is 46% below the UK average, suggesting a combination of local demographics, community engagement, and environmental factors that mitigate aggression and conflict. The absence of significant spikes in property crime, such as burglary or theft from the person, further underscores the area's low-risk profile compared to urban centres. This data illustrates a region where crime prevention efforts, geographic isolation, and perhaps a more stable population structure collectively contribute to sustained safety levels, even during periods of seasonal activity.

November 2024 saw sharp increases in two crime categories: robbery and drug-related offences. Robbery incidents surged by 400%, rising from 1 to 5 cases, while drug-related crimes increased by 166.7%, climbing from 3 to 8. These jumps, though small in absolute terms, may reflect heightened activity during the month's darker evenings or the proximity of seasonal events that could contribute to illicit trade. Conversely, shoplifting dropped by 28.6% (from 77 to 55 cases), due to the early onset of Black Friday shopping, which may have shifted consumer focus to online purchases or deterred opportunistic theft. Public order offences also fell by 27.1%, from 48 to 35, linked to the absence of large-scale gatherings in the area. Wealden's rate for violence and sexual offences (1.4 per 1,000) remains 46% below the UK average, a gap that persists despite the local increase in robbery. This contrast highlights the area's unique crime profile, where violent crime is comparatively low but property-related and drug-related issues show more volatility. Residents may find the drop in shoplifting particularly relevant, as it suggests that retail environments in Wealden may be experiencing fewer disruptions during peak shopping periods.

Wealden's crime rate in November 2024 remained stable compared to the previous month, with no significant change from the 4.0 per 1,000 residents recorded in October. This consistency suggests that the area's overall safety levels are not undergoing abrupt shifts, though localized fluctuations in specific crime types persist. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 22 crimes per day over the 30-day period, a figure that, while low, may still concern residents who perceive even minor incidents as noteworthy. When scaled to the population of 166,908, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 249 residents. This ratio is particularly low compared to the UK average, reinforcing Wealden's status as a relatively safe place to live. The stability in the overall crime rate, despite the sharp increases in robbery and drug offences, indicates that broader trends are not being driven by a single category. This balance may reflect the area's geographic and demographic characteristics, where the absence of dense urban environments or transient populations limits the spread of certain types of crime. For residents, the combination of low overall rates and manageable daily crime counts suggests that the area's safety profile remains robust, even as specific challenges like drug-related activity emerge.