Worthing Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Worthing's overall crime rate in June 2023 stood at 6.6 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 22.4% below the UK average of 8.5 per 1,000. This performance aligns with a trend observed in coastal towns where seasonal tourism and community engagement initiatives may contribute to lower crime levels. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 38.6% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (15.4%) and shoplifting (12.6%). The dominance of violent crime in the breakdown contrasts with the UK average, where property crimes often dominate, suggesting a unique local dynamic influenced by the town's social fabric and public spaces. June, as the start of summer, typically sees increased foot traffic in Worthing's coastal areas and shopping districts, which may explain the relatively high proportion of violence and sexual offences compared to other months. However, this rate remains lower than the UK average for this category, with Worthing's figure of 2.5 per 1,000 for violence and sexual offences sitting 14% below the national benchmark. The town's anti-social behaviour rate, at 1.0 per 1,000, is 32% below the UK average, reflecting effective local policing strategies or community cohesion efforts. Conversely, shoplifting rates in Worthing (0.8 per 1,000) are 48% above the UK average, a discrepancy that may be attributed to the concentration of retail outlets in the town centre, a common feature in market towns and coastal resorts. Seasonal factors such as increased tourism and longer daylight hours could also influence shoplifting patterns, though the exact relationship remains speculative without further data.

June 2023 saw a dramatic 250% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 4 to 14 incidents. This surge, the most significant month-on-month change recorded, may be linked to the summer season, when cycling activity typically rises in coastal areas. Concurrently, anti-social behaviour rose by 29.2%, with reports increasing from 89 to 115, suggesting a possible correlation with the influx of visitors and the extended daylight hours characteristic of June. Shoplifting remained 48% above the UK average, a persistent challenge for retail businesses in Worthing's high streets. In contrast, several categories showed marked declines: robbery fell by 66.7% (from 3 to 1), burglary dropped by 54.3% (from 35 to 16), and other theft decreased by 40.0% (from 45 to 27). These reductions may reflect the impact of targeted police operations or the natural ebb of seasonal crime patterns. The town's violent crime rate, at 2.5 per 1,000, was 14% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may be influenced by Worthing's relatively low population density and the presence of community-focused policing initiatives. The sharp contrast between rising bicycle theft and falling burglary rates highlights the combination of local factors, from tourism-driven opportunities to the effectiveness of crime prevention measures in different sectors.

Worthing's June 2023 crime rate of 6.6 per 1,000 marked a 12.4% decrease from the previous month's rate of 7.5 per 1,000, indicating a short-term trend of declining crime. This monthly aggregate translates to roughly 25 crimes reported per day in the town, a figure that, while specific to Worthing, provides residents with a tangible sense of the local crime environment. Over the course of June, one reported crime occurred for every 152 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average for similar-sized towns. This statistic, when contextualised with Worthing's population of 113,866, underscores the town's relatively safe profile compared to national benchmarks. The decrease in burglary and robbery rates, coupled with the sharp rise in bicycle theft, suggests that crime prevention efforts may be effective in certain areas, such as residential zones, while leaving others, like cycling infrastructure, more vulnerable. Residents living in areas with high foot traffic or near retail hubs may find the shoplifting statistics more relevant to their daily lives, whereas those in quieter neighbourhoods might see the lower burglary rates as a positive indicator. The comparison to the UK average further highlights Worthing's unique position: while it performs well in categories like anti-social behaviour and burglary, it faces challenges in shoplifting and bicycle theft that diverge from the national pattern. These disparities may be attributed to the town's specific geographic and economic characteristics, such as its coastal location and the concentration of retail and leisure facilities in certain areas.