Worthing Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For residents of Worthing, the crime rate in December 2025 stood at 7.5 per 1,000 people, placing the area 7.1% above the UK average of 7.0. This translates to a 1-in-133 chance of experiencing a reported crime over the course of the month. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (29.6% of total incidents), shoplifting (23.7%), and anti-social behaviour (12.2%). These figures align with seasonal patterns typical of December, when extended evenings, holiday shopping activity, and empty homes during the festive season may contribute to heightened risks. Violence and sexual offences, though the most frequent category, were 14% below the UK average, suggesting local factors such as community policing efforts or demographic characteristics may be influencing this trend. Conversely, shoplifting rates were sharply higher than the UK average, likely reflecting the presence of retail hubs in the area that attract both legitimate and opportunistic activity during the Christmas shopping peak. The relatively low rates of burglary and vehicle crime compared to national averages may indicate that Worthing’s urban layout or community engagement initiatives are reducing opportunities for such crimes, though this remains a hypothesis requiring further analysis.

December 2025 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories. Possession of weapons increased by 77.8% compared to November, with incidents rising from 9 to 16—a sharp jump that may reflect heightened tensions during the festive season or changes in enforcement patterns. Other theft also rose by 40.6%, potentially linked to increased retail activity and the movement of goods during the holiday period. Robbery rates climbed by 35.7%, a concerning trend that could be connected to alcohol consumption in nightlife areas or the presence of unattended valuables in public spaces. On the flip side, bicycle theft fell by 56.5% (from 23 to 10), due to seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity or the implementation of anti-theft measures in local parks and cycle lanes. Theft from the person dropped by 50%, which may be attributed to increased public awareness campaigns around personal safety during the holiday season. Shoplifting remained the most significant deviation from the UK average, with rates 216% higher than the national figure, underscoring the need for targeted interventions in retail zones. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour, though still a concern, was 3% below the UK average, suggesting that community cohesion or local initiatives may be mitigating such incidents.

Worthing’s crime rate in December 2025 (7.5 per 1,000) marked a 5.6% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.0, indicating a slight reduction in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 28 crimes per day, a figure that residents may find useful for contextualising their personal risk levels. Over the course of the month, 1 in every 133 residents faced a reported crime, a statistic that, while modest, highlights the persistent nature of crime in urban settings. This monthly exposure rate is comparable to other similar-sized towns but lags behind larger cities with higher population densities. The decline from November may be partially explained by the end of school terms, which often see spikes in anti-social behaviour and related incidents, or by the timing of local events that drew crowds away from high-crime areas. However, the continued dominance of property crimes—particularly shoplifting—suggests that targeted measures in retail districts may be necessary to sustain this downward trend. The population context also reveals that Worthing’s crime rate, while slightly above the UK average, remains relatively stable compared to other parts of the country, indicating that local governance and community engagement efforts may be effectively balancing the risks associated with a bustling coastal town.