Crime in East Sussex: statistics, rates and trends
50,773 crimes were recorded in East Sussex in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in East Sussex at a glance
- Crime trends in East Sussex
- Types of crime in East Sussex
- East Sussex compared with nearby counties
- Areas within East Sussex
- What happened after crimes were reported in East Sussex
- Population and deprivation in East Sussex
- Questions about crime in East Sussex
- About this data
50,773 crimes were recorded in East Sussex in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 16,483 reports (32% of the total).
Of the 21 counties covered by this site, East Sussex has the 3rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | East Sussex | South East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 50,773 | 784,242 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 90.5 | 81.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | -0% | -1% |
| Population | 560,882 | 9,642,942 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in East Sussex was highest in the year to July 2026 (50,773 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (44,105). Over the whole period it rose 13%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 50,773 | 90.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 46,843 | 83.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 46,158 | 82.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 44,395 | 79.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 44,105 | 78.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 48,330 | 86.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 48,581 | 86.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 46,172 | 82.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 44,962 | 80.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5,414 |
| June 2026 | 4,707 |
| May 2026 | 4,940 |
| April 2026 | 4,419 |
| March 2026 | 4,362 |
| February 2026 | 3,743 |
| January 2026 | 3,761 |
| December 2025 | 3,540 |
| November 2025 | 3,804 |
| October 2025 | 3,989 |
| September 2025 | 3,849 |
| August 2025 | 4,245 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in East Sussex over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour.
The largest increases were in robbery (+52%) and anti-social behaviour (+45%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-11%) and shoplifting (-10%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 16,483 | 29.4 | 0.86 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 10,995 | 19.6 | 1.28 | +45% |
| Shoplifting | 5,756 | 10.3 | 1.24 | -10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 3,966 | 7.1 | 1.04 | -1% |
| Public order | 3,845 | 6.9 | 1.03 | +8% |
| Other theft | 2,632 | 4.7 | 0.73 | -2% |
| Vehicle crime | 1,744 | 3.1 | 0.63 | +10% |
| Drugs | 1,387 | 2.5 | 0.76 | +33% |
| Burglary | 1,326 | 2.4 | 0.67 | -3% |
| Other crime | 1,071 | 1.9 | 0.90 | -1% |
| Possession of weapons | 596 | 1.1 | 1.09 | +2% |
| Robbery | 478 | 0.9 | 0.63 | +52% |
| Bicycle theft | 286 | 0.5 | 0.62 | +13% |
| Theft from the person | 208 | 0.4 | 0.22 | -11% |
Violence and sexual offences in East Sussex
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East Sussex recorded 16,483 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 32.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in East Sussex
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East Sussex recorded 10,995 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 45% on the year before. It made up 21.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in East Sussex
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East Sussex recorded 5,756 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in East Sussex
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East Sussex recorded 3,966 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in East Sussex
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East Sussex recorded 3,845 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in East Sussex
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East Sussex recorded 2,632 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in East Sussex
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East Sussex recorded 1,744 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in East Sussex
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East Sussex recorded 1,387 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in East Sussex
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East Sussex recorded 1,326 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in East Sussex
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East Sussex recorded 1,071 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in East Sussex
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East Sussex recorded 596 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in East Sussex
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. East Sussex recorded 478 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 52% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in East Sussex
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East Sussex recorded 286 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in East Sussex
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East Sussex recorded 208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the counties closest to East Sussex, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East Sussex.
| County | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs East Sussex |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Sussex | 75,447 | 82.5 | -9% |
| Kent | 145,448 | 88.7 | -2% |
| Surrey | 87,826 | 70.3 | -22% |
| Essex | 124,662 | 79.7 | -12% |
| Hampshire | 93,230 | 64.4 | -29% |
| Hertfordshire | 105,683 | 85.5 | -6% |
| Oxfordshire | 51,240 | 67.1 | -26% |
| Suffolk | 48,709 | 62.0 | -32% |
5 areas within East Sussex, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Hastings had the highest rate (142.9 per 1,000) and Wealden the lowest (54.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings | District | 91,219 | 13,034 | 142.9 |
| Eastbourne | District | 104,259 | 14,399 | 138.1 |
| Lewes | District | 102,363 | 7,407 | 72.4 |
| Rother | District | 96,133 | 6,900 | 71.8 |
| Wealden | District | 166,908 | 9,033 | 54.1 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East Sussex over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 17,406 | 34.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 12,352 | 24.3% |
| Not recorded | 10,995 | 21.7% |
| Under investigation | 3,529 | 7.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2,163 | 4.3% |
| Local resolution | 1,244 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 1,211 | 2.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 825 | 1.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 315 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 285 | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 200 | 0.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 120 | 0.2% |
East Sussex has an estimated population of 560,882. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East Sussex sits in decile 5.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | East Sussex |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.3% |
| Social rented homes | 11.0% |
| Private rented homes | 19.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 8.9% |
Is East Sussex a safe place to live?
East Sussex recorded 90.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in East Sussex?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 16,483 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (10,995).
Is crime in East Sussex going up or down?
Recorded crime in East Sussex was up 8% on the year before: 50,773 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 46,843 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers East Sussex?
East Sussex is policed by Sussex. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to East Sussex. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.