Worthing Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The balance of crime types in Worthing during May 2023 reveals a mix of violent and property crimes that diverges from the UK average. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 38.1% of all crimes, making them the most prevalent category, followed by shoplifting at 14.5%. This pattern contrasts with the UK average, where violence and sexual offences constitute 35.4% of crimes. The local rate of 7.5 per 1,000 residents is 6.2% below the UK average of 8.0, suggesting a slightly safer environment overall. However, the prominence of shoplifting—124% above the UK average—raises questions about the dynamics of retail areas in the area. This could be linked to Worthing's coastal location, which attracts both residents and tourists, potentially increasing opportunities for such offences. The relatively low rates of anti-social behaviour (40% below UK average) and vehicle crime (33% below UK average) might reflect the town's community-oriented policing efforts and lower population density compared to larger urban centres. Seasonal factors in May, such as longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising, likely contribute to the higher incidence of violence and public order offences. These patterns align with typical trends in coastal towns where summer tourism begins to influence local crime profiles. The interplay between resident and tourist populations appears to shape the crime mix, with retail and leisure areas driving specific types of offences while others remain below national averages.

May 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with theft from the person surging by 400% (from 1 to 5 incidents) and possession of weapons doubling (from 6 to 12). These increases may be linked to the seasonal transition into summer, where extended evenings and increased foot traffic in public spaces create conditions conducive to such crimes. Conversely, bicycle theft fell by 71.4% (from 14 to 4), potentially reflecting a seasonal dip in cycling activity as weather improves and outdoor events shift focus away from cycling infrastructure. The breakdown of crimes highlights a stark contrast between local and UK averages: shoplifting in Worthing is 124% above the UK average (1.1 vs 0.5 per 1,000), while anti-social behaviour is 40% below (0.8 vs 1.3 per 1,000). This divergence suggests that while retail areas in Worthing may face challenges with theft, the town's overall social environment appears to be more orderly than the national average. Residents might find the 38.1% share of violence and sexual offences particularly noteworthy, as this category is 4% above the UK average (2.9 vs 2.8 per 1,000). This could indicate a need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas during the summer months, when outdoor drinking and socialising increase.

Worthing's crime rate in May 2023 rose by 4.5% compared to the previous month, moving from 7.2 to 7.5 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in local crime patterns that may be influenced by seasonal factors such as warmer weather and extended daylight hours. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 28 crimes per day in May, a figure that provides residents with a tangible sense of the scale of criminal activity in their community. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 133 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the impact of crime on individual households. When compared to the UK average, Worthing's overall crime rate remains slightly lower (7.5 vs 8.0 per 1,000), but specific categories like shoplifting and drug-related offences show marked differences. The local population of 113,866 means that each crime has a measurable effect on the community, with the 326 reported violent crimes alone accounting for 2.9 per 1,000 residents. This population-scaled perspective highlights how even small changes in crime rates can translate into significant impacts on daily life. The comparison to previous months and the UK average underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and targeted policing strategies to address emerging trends while maintaining the town's relatively low overall crime levels.