Worthing Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Worthing's August 2023 crime profile was defined by a stark imbalance between property and violent crimes, with shoplifting accounting for nearly a third of all reported incidents. The area's overall crime rate (9.4 per 1,000 residents) exceeded the UK average by 16%, driven largely by retail crime. Shoplifting, at 2.8 per 1,000 (29.8% of total crimes), was 367% above the UK average, a figure that may reflect the town's commercial vibrancy and summer tourism. This contrasted with a more modest 5% deficit in violent crimes compared to the UK, though violence and sexual offences (288 cases) remained the second-largest category. Anti-social behaviour (143 cases) and public order offences (77 cases) also featured prominently, suggesting ongoing challenges in community engagement and public space management. Seasonal factors likely played a role, with August as a peak holiday month potentially increasing opportunities for property crime through empty homes and retail foot traffic. The data aligns with Worthing's character as a coastal town with a mix of urban infrastructure and tourist attractions, where retail areas may act as hotspots for theft. While violent crime rates were relatively lower than the UK average, the dominance of property crime highlights the need for targeted interventions in commercial zones. This pattern may also be influenced by the area's demographic profile, with a significant proportion of residents likely engaged in retail or service industries, contributing to both the demand for and vulnerability to such crimes.

August 2023 saw a 50% increase in 'other crime' (from 8 to 12 cases), alongside a 25% rise in robbery (from 8 to 10). These spikes contrast with a 44.4% drop in theft from the person (from 9 to 5) and a 41.2% decrease in burglary (from 34 to 20). The property-crime-to-violent-crime ratio stood at 1.88:1, with shoplifting (29.8% of total crimes) dominating property offences. This imbalance may reflect the area's retail density and summer tourism, which could drive opportunistic theft. Violent crimes, at 26.3% of total incidents, were 5% below the UK average, though violence and sexual offences remained the second-largest category. The stark 367% gap in shoplifting rates compared to the UK average suggests a localised challenge in retail crime prevention, linked to high foot traffic in commercial zones.

Worthing's crime rate in August 2023 (9.4 per 1,000 residents) marked a 12.8% decrease from July's 10.8 per 1,000, reflecting a downward trend in overall crime. This reduction contrasts with the area's 16.0% above the UK average, highlighting a combination of local factors and national trends. Daily crime figures reveal 35 reported crimes per day in August, a figure that, while significant, remains consistent with seasonal patterns. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 106 residents, a ratio that contextualises the monthly exposure for residents. This rate is higher than the UK average but aligns with Worthing's character as a coastal town with a mix of urban and tourist-driven activity. The decrease in burglary (from 34 to 20 cases) may partly explain the overall drop. The population-scaled perspective shows that while the rate is elevated, the absolute number of crimes per resident remains manageable for a built-up area with a population of 116,366.