Worthing Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Worthing's July 2023 crime profile was dominated by violence and sexual offences, accounting for 29.3% of all reported crimes and marking a 15% increase above the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000. This category's prominence reflects the district's seasonal dynamics: with schools closed and tourism at its peak, public spaces became hotspots for interpersonal conflicts. Shoplifting, the second most common crime at 25.8% of total incidents, surged to 325 cases, a 383% jump above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This spike aligns with the influx of summer visitors to Worthing's high streets and coastal areas, where retail activity and festival events likely created opportunities for opportunistic theft. Anti-social behaviour, though lower than the UK average, accounted for 11.8% of crimes, pointing to localized tensions exacerbated by increased population density during the month. The overall crime rate of 11.1 per 1,000—33.7% above the UK average—suggests systemic challenges in managing criminal activity during peak summer months. While the UK average for violent crime remains stable, Worthing's figures indicate a unique vulnerability, possibly tied to its role as a tourist destination and the associated pressures on policing resources. The seasonal context of July—characterized by festivals, outdoor events, and extended daylight—likely contributed to the patterns observed, with public order and anti-social behaviour crimes also rising above the UK average by 13% and 8% respectively. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions during summer months to address the specific drivers of violent and property-related crime in Worthing.

July 2023 saw a 700% increase in reported robberies, jumping from 1 to 8 cases, a stark anomaly in the data. Shoplifting also rose sharply by 245.7%, with 325 incidents compared to 94 in June, far exceeding the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 by 383%. Vehicle crime doubled, with 60 reported cases compared to 20 in June, a 200% increase that aligns with the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. In contrast, 'other crime' fell by 20%, from 10 to 8. The dominance of violent crime—369 cases, or 29.3% of all reported crimes—far outpaces the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000, suggesting local factors such as increased foot traffic during festivals may be exacerbating interpersonal conflicts. These trends offer a clear warning for residents to remain vigilant during peak summer activity.

Worthing's July 2023 crime rate of 11.1 per 1,000 residents marked a 67.9% increase from the previous month's rate of 6.6 per 1,000. This surge reflects a sharp acceleration in criminal activity, with 41 crimes reported daily across the district. Over the course of July, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 91 residents, highlighting the heightened exposure to crime in this period. The population context further underscores this: with 113,866 residents, the scale of the increase means more than 1,300 additional crimes compared to June. While some categories, like burglary and drugs, remained below UK averages, the disproportionate rise in violent crime and shoplifting indicates a shift in criminal priorities. This contrasts with the previous month's more stable profile, suggesting seasonal factors or localized pressures may have contributed to the uptick.