Lower Willingdon Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Anti-social behaviour dominated crime reporting in Lower Willingdon during January 2024, accounting for 25% of all recorded incidents. With an overall crime rate of 3.2 per 1,000 residents—56.8% below the UK average of 7.4—this built-up area within Wealden continues to show significantly lower crime levels than national benchmarks. The data reveals a distinct pattern where anti-social behaviour (6 incidents) and other unspecified crimes (5 incidents) together make up nearly half of all recorded offences, suggesting a focus on community-level disruptions rather than property or violent crime. This aligns with the seasonal context of January, a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail footfall, which may partly explain the low levels of shoplifting and burglary typically associated with higher-traffic periods. While violent crime (5 incidents) remains a concern, its rate of 0.7 per 1,000 is 73% below the UK average, indicating a safer environment for residents compared to national trends. The area's lower population density and potential reliance on local amenities rather than major commercial hubs could contribute to this profile, though further analysis would be needed to confirm such connections. The absence of significant spikes in property crime or violent offences during the month reinforces the area's comparatively stable crime picture, even as anti-social behaviour remains a persistent category requiring attention.

January 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with other theft incidents doubling from zero to two (+100%), and burglary increasing from zero to one (+100%). This contrasts with a 66.7% decline in shoplifting, which fell from three to one, likely reflecting the post-holiday lull in retail activity. Violence and sexual offences also decreased by 61.5%, from 13 to five, though this category remains 73% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, the most frequently reported crime, rose by 50% compared to December, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as reduced daylight and community gatherings. While other crime (5 incidents) is 400% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000, this category's ambiguity makes direct comparisons challenging. Public order offences fell by 25% (from four to three), maintaining a 17% gap below the UK average. These fluctuations highlight the need for targeted interventions in anti-social behaviour, which now constitutes a quarter of all reported crimes, while the overall crime rate remains 56.8% below the national average. Residents may find the 100% increase in other theft particularly concerning, as it suggests emerging issues that require further investigation.

Lower Willingdon's crime rate in January 2024 (3.2 per 1,000) marks a 27.4% decrease from December's 4.3 per 1,000, reflecting a downward trend in local crime levels. This decline is especially notable when considering the area's population of 7,611 residents, with one reported crime occurring for every 317 residents over the month—a monthly exposure rate that is exceptionally low compared to national standards. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day, a figure that contextualises the relatively sparse nature of criminal activity in this built-up area. When compared to the UK average, Lower Willingdon's overall crime rate is 56.8% below the national figure of 7.4 per 1,000, underscoring its status as a safer locality. This contrast is amplified by the fact that even categories with significant deviations from the UK average—such as other crime (400% above) and anti-social behaviour (19% below)—do not detract from the area's overall safety profile. The 27.4% month-on-month reduction in crime rate further supports this narrative, suggesting that local factors—whether community initiatives, environmental characteristics, or seasonal dynamics—may be contributing to this sustained decline. For residents, the combination of low daily crime counts and a monthly exposure rate of 1-in-317 provides a clear sense of security, even as specific categories like other theft require continued monitoring.