Wealden Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences remain the dominant crime category in Wealden for September 2024, accounting for 32.5% of all reported crimes. This category alone is 58% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, with 187 incidents recorded across the district. The overall crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 is 54.5% lower than the national average of 7.7, reflecting a consistently safer profile compared to the UK. The breakdown of crimes highlights the interplay between local demographics and seasonal rhythms: with September marking the start of the academic year and university freshers arriving, the data suggests a potential link between these transitions and the persistence of violent crime. Anti-social behaviour (17.7% of total crimes) and criminal damage and arson (10.1%) follow as the next most common categories, though both remain significantly below UK averages. The relatively low proportion of property crimes (36.3%) compared to violent offences may indicate a community profile where interpersonal conflicts and disorder dominate over theft or burglary. Seasonal factors, such as the draw of nightlife and the onset of shorter evenings, could contribute to the sustained rate of violence. The contrast with the UK average underscores Wealden’s distinct character as a district with lower levels of acquisitive crime, influenced by its rural-urban mix and community-focused policing strategies.

September 2024 saw sharp increases in theft from the person (+300%, from 1 to 4 incidents) and robbery (+300%, from 1 to 4), though these remain well below UK averages. These spikes, while statistically significant, occurred against a backdrop of broader declines in other categories. Anti-social behaviour dropped by 34.6% (from 156 to 102), and vehicle crime fell by 26.7% (from 30 to 22), suggesting targeted interventions or seasonal shifts in criminal activity. The proportion of violent crime (32.5% of total) remains high compared to property crimes (36.3%), a trend that has persisted despite the overall decline in crime rates. Violence and sexual offences in Wealden are 58% below the UK average, a gap that may reflect both local policing effectiveness and the district’s demographic makeup. For residents, the 17.5% drop in the overall crime rate from August (4.2 to 3.5 per 1,000) offers a tangible indicator of progress, though the persistent prevalence of violence highlights the need for continued focus on community safety initiatives. The 56% reduction in shoplifting compared to the UK average also suggests that retail areas in Wealden may be effectively managed, through collaboration between businesses and local authorities.

Wealden’s September 2024 crime rate of 3.5 per 1,000 represents a 17.5% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 4.2, indicating a continued downward trend. On a daily basis, the district recorded approximately 19 crimes per day, a figure that translates to one reported crime for roughly every 290 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate, while low, underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance in areas where crime does occur. When compared to the UK average, Wealden’s population-scaled perspective reveals a stark contrast: for every 1,000 residents, the district experiences just 3.5 crimes, compared to the national average of 7.7. This disparity suggests that local factors—such as a strong community presence, effective policing, or socioeconomic characteristics—play a significant role in shaping the crime profile. The 54.5% gap below the UK average is particularly pronounced in categories like vehicle crime (78% below) and burglary (35% below), which may reflect a lower density of high-risk environments such as urban centres or commuter hubs. For residents, these figures provide context for understanding the relative safety of the area, though they also highlight the need to address the persistent issues in violent crime categories where Wealden still lags behind its peers.