Worthing Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 113,866 residents, January 2026 saw 873 crimes reported in Worthing, equating to 7.7 crimes per 1,000 people. This rate is 13.2% higher than the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, reflecting a pattern of elevated local crime compared to national trends. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 32.1% of all crimes (280 incidents), shoplifting made up 19.7% (172 cases), and anti-social behaviour contributed 14.6% (127 reports). These figures suggest a concentration of incidents in areas with high foot traffic, such as the town’s retail and leisure hubs. Seasonal factors may play a role: January’s post-holiday period, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail activity could influence crime patterns, though the persistent high rate of violent crime suggests deeper, year-round challenges. The town’s mix of residential and commercial spaces, coupled with its coastal location, likely creates unique pressures on local policing and community safety initiatives. While shoplifting and anti-social behaviour dominate, the proportion of violent crimes—particularly those involving sexual offences—remains high, indicating a need for targeted interventions in public spaces and nightlife areas.

January 2026 marked a 155.6% surge in 'other crime' reports, rising from 9 to 23 incidents, a stark increase that may reflect unclassified or emerging criminal activities. Bicycle theft also spiked by 60%, jumping from 10 to 16 cases, potentially linked to increased cycling during colder months or vulnerabilities in parking infrastructure. Conversely, robbery rates fell sharply by 73.7% (from 19 to 5), and theft from the person dropped by 50% (from 2 to 1), due to reduced tourist activity and shorter evenings limiting opportunities for such crimes. Shoplifting remains a critical concern, with a rate 163% above the UK average (1.5 per 1,000 in Worthing versus 0.6 per 1,000 nationally), highlighting the need for enhanced retail security measures. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences also exceeded UK averages by 18% and 90%, respectively, suggesting that localised tensions or environmental factors—such as underutilised public spaces during winter—may be contributing to these trends. The balance of crime types leans heavily towards property-related incidents (shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, public order) and violent crime, with property crimes making up 48.3% of the total and violent crimes accounting for 32.1%, indicating a dual challenge for law enforcement.

Worthing’s crime rate in January 2026 remained stable compared to December, which recorded 7.5 crimes per 1,000 residents, showing a 2.0% increase over the previous month. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 28 crimes per day, a figure that, while consistent with prior months, underscores the continuous pressure on local resources. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime occurring for every 130 residents, a ratio that, while not extreme, highlights the frequency of incidents in a relatively compact local authority. This rate is higher than the UK average, particularly in categories such as shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, which are significantly above national benchmarks. The stability in the overall rate does not mask the uneven distribution of crime types: while property crimes and violent offences remain elevated, categories like vehicle crime and burglary are below UK averages, suggesting that certain aspects of the local environment—such as lower foot traffic in residential areas or effective policing in vehicle-related crimes—may be mitigating specific risks. For residents, this means a mixed picture: while some areas benefit from lower-than-average rates in certain categories, others face challenges that require targeted community and policing strategies.