Lower Willingdon Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

August 2025 marked a significant and unexpected shift in Lower Willingdon's crime profile, with criminal damage and arson surging by 500%—the most extreme month-on-month change recorded in the area's data. This anomaly stands in stark contrast to the overall crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000, which remains 48.1% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 37.5% of all incidents, yet their rate of 1.6 per 1,000 is 44% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 21.9% of total crimes, but its rate of 0.9 per 1,000 is 38% below national figures. The seasonal context of August—a peak holiday month with increased tourism and empty homes—may have influenced patterns, though the dramatic rise in criminal damage and arson defies straightforward explanation. This category's rate of 0.8 per 1,000 is 36% above the UK average, suggesting a localized factor at play. Meanwhile, shoplifting plummeted by 80%, and other theft and vehicle crime both doubled, though they remain well below national averages. These trends highlight the area's resilience to typical crime pressures, even as unexpected spikes challenge assumptions about seasonal crime patterns in built-up areas within Wealden.

August 2025 witnessed a striking 500% surge in criminal damage and arson, with incidents rising from one to six. This dramatic increase, uncharacteristic for the area, contrasts sharply with an 80% drop in shoplifting, which fell from five to one. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 22.2%, moving from nine to seven incidents. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 37.5% of all crimes, but this rate stood at 1.6 per 1,000—44% below the UK average. Other theft and vehicle crime both rose by 100%, though they remained well below national averages. These shifts suggest a combination of factors, including potential seasonal influences, as August is typically a peak holiday month with increased tourism and empty homes. Residents might find the 80% decline in shoplifting particularly noteworthy, as it indicates a possible reduction in retail-related crime during the summer period.

Lower Willingdon's crime rate in August 2025 fell by 3.2% compared to July, maintaining its position as one of the safest built-up areas in Wealden. With 32 total crimes reported over 31 days, this equates to roughly one crime per day—a pace significantly lower than the UK average. The monthly exposure figure reveals that over the course of August, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 238 residents, a statistic that contextualises the low frequency of incidents within the local population. While the previous month's rate was 4.3 per 1,000, the August figure of 4.2 per 1,000 underscores a consistent trend of below-average crime levels. This daily and monthly context provides residents with a tangible sense of security, reinforcing the area's reputation for low crime despite its proximity to Wealden's more densely populated regions. The population-scaled perspective further highlights that the likelihood of experiencing a crime remains minimal, even when considering the seasonal factors typical of August.