Worthing Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Worthing, 7 crimes were reported in December 2024, placing the area 1.4% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This translates to a monthly exposure of 1 reported crime for every 144 residents, a figure that contextualises risk in everyday terms. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 31.1% of all crimes, followed by shoplifting (20.5%) and anti-social behaviour (9.6%). The seasonal context of December—dark evenings, Christmas shopping, and holiday-related absences—likely contributes to patterns such as the 146% surge in shoplifting above the UK average. While the overall rate remains stable compared to previous months, the distribution of crime types reveals a combination of local dynamics and national trends. Retail hubs and high streets, common in built-up areas like Worthing, may partly explain the elevated shoplifting rates during the festive season. Similarly, the prevalence of violence and sexual offences could reflect the area's nightlife activity or the pressures of seasonal social interactions. Anti-social behaviour, though lower than the UK average, remains a consistent concern, linked to the area's population density and the challenges of managing public spaces during peak holiday periods. These figures, while not definitive, offer insight into how crime manifests in a built-up area with a mix of residential and commercial spaces.

December 2024 saw an 110% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 20 to 42 incidents. This sharp jump may reflect the seasonal shift in vehicle usage during the festive period or increased opportunities for theft in car parks. Conversely, possession of weapons fell by 46.2%, dropping from 13 to 7 incidents—a trend that could indicate effective policing during the month or a reduction in related activities. Shoplifting emerged as a significant concern, with rates 146% above the UK average. This stark deviation highlights the impact of holiday shopping on retail crime, particularly in areas with high foot traffic. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour remained 26% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may reflect local community initiatives or the area's demographic profile. The contrast between shoplifting's sharp increase and burglary's 35% deficit below the UK average illustrates a shift in crime focus during December, with property crimes becoming more concentrated in retail rather than residential spaces. These fluctuations, while not fully explained by the data, suggest that local factors such as seasonal consumer activity and policing strategies play a role in shaping crime patterns.

Worthing's crime rate in December 2024 remained stable at 7.0 per 1,000, matching the previous month's figure exactly. This consistency suggests that the area's overall crime profile is not significantly influenced by short-term fluctuations. On a daily basis, the built-up area recorded approximately 26 crimes per day—a rate that, while not alarmingly high, underscores the need for continuous community vigilance. When scaled to population size, the monthly exposure of 1 crime per 144 residents provides a concrete measure of risk for residents. This figure, though modest, contextualises the likelihood of encountering crime in everyday life. The comparison to the UK average reveals that Worthing's performance is slightly better than the national benchmark, particularly in categories such as violence and sexual offences, which were 14% below the UK average. However, this advantage is offset by the significant spike in shoplifting, which far exceeds national norms. The interplay between these figures—some areas performing better than average, others worse—reflects the complex nature of crime in a built-up area with diverse land use. While the daily crime count remains a local metric without direct UK comparison, it serves as a useful reference point for residents assessing their personal risk in relation to national trends.