Worthing Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Worthing's crime profile in July 2024, accounting for 36.4% of all reported crimes. This category, at 2.8 per 1,000 residents, was 2% below the UK average, reflecting a combination of local factors and national trends. The overall crime rate of 7.8 per 1,000 residents placed the area 7.1% below the UK average, a figure that highlights the effectiveness of community policing initiatives in mitigating broader criminal activity. Anti-social behaviour (16.4% of total crimes) and public order offences (10.4%) followed as the second and third most common categories, illustrating the challenges of managing public spaces during peak summer months. The seasonal context of July—marked by extended daylight hours, school holidays, and the height of the tourism season—likely contributes to the elevated levels of violence and public order offences. Coastal towns like Worthing often experience spikes in crime during summer due to increased transient populations and the concentration of social activities in town centres, though the area's rate remains below the UK average. The lower-than-average rates for burglary (35% below UK average) and vehicle crime (13% below) suggest that targeted efforts in property crime prevention have yielded results, possibly through improved surveillance and community engagement. However, the 25% increase in public order offences compared to the UK average may indicate gaps in managing large gatherings, a challenge exacerbated by the area's tourism infrastructure and the prevalence of festivals and events in July. These patterns underscore the need for adaptive strategies that balance the benefits of tourism with the imperative to maintain public safety.

July 2024 saw a 15.8% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 279 to 323 incidents. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in theft from the person (2 to 4 cases), suggests heightened tensions or opportunities during the summer tourist season. Conversely, drug-related crimes fell by 37%, from 27 to 17, potentially linked to reduced local presence during school holidays. Public order offences also rose sharply, 25% above the UK average, indicating challenges in managing crowds during festivals and outdoor events. The 25% increase in shoplifting compared to the UK average (0.8 vs 0.7 per 1,000) may be attributed to the town's retail presence and extended opening hours during peak summer. These fluctuations underscore the need for targeted interventions in high-traffic areas, while the stability in burglary and vehicle crime rates (both 13% and 18% below UK averages, respectively) suggests ongoing effectiveness in property crime prevention strategies.

Worthing's crime rate in July 2024 remained stable compared to June, with a 1.0% increase from 7.7 to 7.8 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no major shifts in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 29 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the density of public spaces and community interactions typical of a coastal town. Over the course of July, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 128 residents, a monthly exposure rate that aligns with Worthing's population distribution and land use patterns. When contextualized against the local population of 113,866, this rate illustrates a balance between urban density and rural pockets, with crime concentrated in areas experiencing higher foot traffic during the summer tourist season. The stability in the overall rate contrasts with fluctuations in specific categories, such as the sharp rise in theft from the person and the decline in drug-related offences, which may reflect seasonal shifts in both resident and visitor behaviour.