Polegate Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Polegate's overall crime rate in January 2024 stood at 5.2 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 29.7% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This performance highlights a consistently safer profile compared to national trends, though the January data reveals nuanced patterns. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 39.7% of all crimes (23 incidents), making them the most common category — a rate of 2.0 per 1,000, 23% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed at 10.3% (six incidents), with a rate of 0.5 per 1,000, 49% below the UK figure. These figures align with the area's character as a relatively quiet built-up area within Wealden, where the absence of major commercial hubs or nightlife districts likely reduces opportunities for certain crime types. Seasonal factors also appear to influence the data: January's post-holiday period and shorter daylight hours may contribute to lower outdoor crime rates, consistent with the reduced shoplifting and vehicle crime figures. However, the 90% spike in drug-related offences (five incidents) compared to the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000 suggests a localised issue that requires further scrutiny. This balance between below-average violent crime and elevated drug-related incidents illustrates the combination of local demographics and seasonal rhythms in shaping the area's crime picture.

January 2024 saw a 100% increase in drug-related crimes, rising from zero to five incidents. This jump, though small in absolute terms, places drug offences at 0.4 per 1,000 — 90% above the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000. Conversely, shoplifting decreased by 25% (from four to three incidents), aligning with the seasonal context of reduced retail footfall in post-holiday January. The crime mix also shifted: violent crimes (23 cases, 39.7% of total) outpaced property crimes (16 cases), a reversal from the prior month's balance. Burglary and other theft both rose by 100% compared to December, highlighting a potential seasonal trend in residential crime. These shifts contrast with the UK average for violent crimes, which were 23% lower in Polegate than nationally. Residents may find the 25% drop in shoplifting particularly relevant, as it suggests reduced pressure on local businesses during the early part of the year.

Polegate's crime rate in January 2024 rose to 5.2 per 1,000 residents, an 81.3% increase from the previous month's rate of 2.8 per 1,000. This shift suggests a notable uptick in reported incidents over the short term. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly two crimes per day in January, a figure that, while locally relevant, lacks direct national comparison due to the absence of UK-wide daily statistics. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 194 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the scale of incidents within the population. This rate, while lower than the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, reflects a marked change from the prior month. The population context further highlights that even modest increases in crime can have visible impacts on local communities, particularly in areas with smaller resident numbers. This comparison underscores the importance of tracking local trends against both historical data and national benchmarks to gauge relative safety and identify potential areas for intervention.