Wealden Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2024, Wealden’s crime rate of 4.0 per 1,000 residents marked a significant 50.6% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This stark contrast positions Wealden as one of the safer local authority districts in the country. The crime profile revealed a notable dominance of violent crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 34.1% of all reported incidents — the largest single category. This proportion is higher than the share of property crimes (274 incidents, or 40.6% of total), indicating a shift in the balance between violent and property crime. Such a trend may reflect broader societal dynamics, including the influence of seasonal factors like darker evenings and Halloween, which often correlate with increased anti-social behaviour and alcohol-related incidents. Anti-social behaviour itself accounted for 13.8% of crimes, a figure 53% below the UK average, suggesting that Wealden’s community may have mechanisms in place to mitigate disorderly conduct. Shoplifting, the third most common crime (11.4% of total), also remained below the UK average, though its 31% deficit indicates a localised challenge in retail areas. The overall low crime rate, combined with the prominence of violent offences, raises questions about the interplay between community safety initiatives and the specific vulnerabilities of Wealden’s population. As a largely rural district with a mix of commuter and local communities, Wealden’s crime picture appears shaped by a combination of geographic isolation, local policing strategies, and seasonal rhythms. The relatively low levels of property crime may be attributed to factors such as lower population density or effective community engagement in preventing theft and burglary.

October 2024 saw a dramatic 266.7% increase in possession of weapons, rising from 3 to 11 incidents. This spike, though small in absolute terms, may reflect seasonal factors such as Halloween or changes in local enforcement patterns. Vehicle crime also surged by 168.2%, jumping from 22 to 59 cases, a shift that could be linked to increased traffic or changes in parking habits during the month. In contrast, bicycle theft plummeted by 80.0%, falling from 5 to 1, due to seasonal inactivity or targeted awareness campaigns. Violent crimes in Wealden remain 48% below the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 1.4 per 1,000 — a rate that is 48% lower than the national benchmark. This divergence from the UK average highlights the area’s unique characteristics, where violent crime is less prevalent than in other parts of the country.

Wealden's crime rate in October 2024 rose 17.1% from the previous month, moving from 3.5 to 4.0 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, suggests a shift in local crime dynamics. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately 22 crimes reported each day in October, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the pace at which incidents occur. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 247 residents, highlighting the relatively low frequency of crime in Wealden compared to larger urban centres. This monthly exposure rate, when considered alongside the population of 166,908, underscores the area's overall safety profile. The absence of a UK daily crime comparison means the focus remains on local trends, but the 1-in-247 statistic offers residents a clear benchmark for understanding their risk relative to the population size.