Wealden Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Wealden’s crime profile in September 2024, accounting for 32.5% of all reported incidents. This category, with a rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents, remains 58% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, highlighting a consistent local trend. The overall crime rate for the area was 3.5 per 1,000, placing Wealden 54.5% below the national average of 7.7. This stark contrast with the UK suggests a combination of factors, including a relatively stable population and community structures that may limit opportunities for certain types of crime. Seasonal context adds nuance: as September marks the start of the academic year and the transition from summer to autumn, patterns may reflect both increased foot traffic in educational hubs and the waning of seasonal tourism. However, the dominance of violent crime over property-related offences is notable, particularly when compared to the UK, where property crimes typically account for a larger share. This may indicate a higher proportion of residential or community-focused crime in Wealden, linked to local demographics or social dynamics. While anti-social behaviour and criminal damage declined month-on-month, the persistent underperformance relative to the UK in these categories suggests long-term structural factors, such as community engagement or policing strategies, could play a role. The data also reveals Wealden’s property crimes, though lower than the UK average, are concentrated in shoplifting and vehicle-related incidents, which may be influenced by local retail environments or commuter patterns.

September 2024 saw sharp increases in robbery (+300%) and theft from the person (+300%), both rising from one to four incidents. This spike contrasts with declines in anti-social behaviour (-34.6%) and vehicle crime (-26.7%), which fell by over a third. Violence and sexual offences, at 1.1 per 1,000, remain 58% below the UK average of 2.6, suggesting a persistent local trend. The drop in anti-social behaviour may reflect the start of the school term, as community activities shift focus away from public spaces. Meanwhile, the tripling of robberies raises questions about targeted activity, though no direct links to broader patterns are evident. For residents, the most immediate concern is the sudden rise in personal crime, which may warrant increased vigilance in high-risk areas.

Wealden's crime rate in September 2024 fell by 17.5% compared to August, dropping from 4.2 to 3.5 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with broader trends in anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, which both decreased by over 30% month-on-month. While the overall rate remains well below the UK average, the drop suggests a seasonal moderation in activity. On a daily basis, 19 crimes were reported in September, translating to a local experience of roughly one crime for every 290 residents over the course of the month. This figure contextualises the rate within the population, showing that the likelihood of encountering crime remains relatively low. The decrease may reflect the transition into autumn, with fewer summer-related incidents and a shift in community activity as schools and universities settle into term time. However, the sharp rise in specific categories like robbery and theft from the person indicates targeted spikes that require closer attention.