Crime in Worthing district: statistics, rates and trends
11,373 crimes were recorded in Worthing district in the 12 months to July 2026, 99.9 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 Worthing district at a glance
- Crime trends in Worthing district
- Types of crime in Worthing district
- Worthing district compared with nearby districts
- Areas within Worthing district
- Streets with the most crime in Worthing district
- What happened after crimes were reported in Worthing district
- Population and deprivation in Worthing district
- Questions about crime in Worthing district
- About this data
11,373 crimes were recorded in Worthing district in the 12 months to July 2026, 99.9 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 3,492 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Worthing district has the 99th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Worthing district | West Sussex | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 11,373 | 75,447 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 99.9 | 82.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 113,866 | 915,037 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Worthing district was highest in the year to July 2023 (11,490 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (10,298). Over the whole period it rose 10%, 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 | 11,373 | 99.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 10,485 | 92.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 11,334 | 99.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 11,490 | 100.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 10,685 | 93.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 10,584 | 93.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 10,903 | 95.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 10,847 | 95.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 10,298 | 90.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 1,041 |
| June 2026 | 994 |
| May 2026 | 1,021 |
| April 2026 | 954 |
| March 2026 | 1,016 |
| February 2026 | 872 |
| January 2026 | 873 |
| December 2025 | 856 |
| November 2025 | 907 |
| October 2025 | 878 |
| September 2025 | 987 |
| August 2025 | 974 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Worthing district 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, shoplifting, public order.
The largest increases were in robbery (+84%) and anti-social behaviour (+47%). The largest falls were in drugs (-14%) and theft from the person (-13%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,492 | 30.7 | 0.90 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,282 | 20.0 | 1.31 | +47% |
| Shoplifting | 1,779 | 15.6 | 1.89 | -2% |
| Public order | 980 | 8.6 | 1.30 | +12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 786 | 6.9 | 1.02 | +5% |
| Other theft | 497 | 4.4 | 0.68 | -5% |
| Vehicle crime | 360 | 3.2 | 0.64 | -8% |
| Drugs | 291 | 2.6 | 0.78 | -14% |
| Other crime | 218 | 1.9 | 0.91 | +3% |
| Burglary | 209 | 1.8 | 0.52 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 152 | 1.3 | 1.62 | +16% |
| Possession of weapons | 149 | 1.3 | 1.35 | +7% |
| Robbery | 138 | 1.2 | 0.90 | +84% |
| Theft from the person | 40 | 0.4 | 0.21 | -13% |
Violence and sexual offences in Worthing district
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Worthing district recorded 3,492 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 30.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Worthing district
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Worthing district recorded 2,282 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 20.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Worthing district
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Worthing district recorded 1,779 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 15.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Worthing district
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Worthing district recorded 980 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Worthing district
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Worthing district recorded 786 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Worthing district
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Worthing district recorded 497 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Worthing district
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Worthing district recorded 360 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Worthing district
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Worthing district recorded 291 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Worthing district
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Worthing district recorded 218 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 up 3% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Worthing district
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Worthing district recorded 209 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Worthing district
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Worthing district recorded 152 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Worthing district
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Worthing district recorded 149 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Worthing district
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Worthing district recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 84% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Worthing district
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Worthing district recorded 40 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 13% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the districts closest to Worthing district, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Worthing district.
| District | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Worthing district |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adur | 4,479 | 69.0 | -31% |
| Arun | 15,051 | 88.5 | -11% |
| Brighton and Hove | 35,086 | 123.6 | +24% |
| Horsham | 8,524 | 56.3 | -44% |
| Chichester | 10,241 | 79.4 | -20% |
| Lewes | 7,407 | 72.4 | -28% |
| Mid Sussex | 9,703 | 60.0 | -40% |
| Crawley | 16,076 | 129.6 | +30% |
14 areas within Worthing district, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Central had the highest rate (278.8 per 1,000) and Goring the lowest (50.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Neighbourhood | 11,275 | 3,143 | 278.8 |
| Heene | Neighbourhood | 9,224 | 1,331 | 144.3 |
| Worthing | Town | 113,866 | 11,373 | 99.9 |
| Castle | Neighbourhood | 9,671 | 939 | 97.1 |
| Tarring | Neighbourhood | 8,700 | 833 | 95.7 |
| Northbrook | Neighbourhood | 8,143 | 770 | 94.6 |
| Selden | Neighbourhood | 8,556 | 639 | 74.7 |
| Broadwater | Neighbourhood | 9,268 | 677 | 73.0 |
| Gaisford | Neighbourhood | 9,438 | 673 | 71.3 |
| Marine | Neighbourhood | 8,456 | 554 | 65.5 |
| Salvington | Neighbourhood | 8,963 | 569 | 63.5 |
| Durrington | Neighbourhood | 5,903 | 359 | 60.8 |
| Offington | Neighbourhood | 7,927 | 464 | 58.5 |
| Goring | Neighbourhood | 8,342 | 422 | 50.6 |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Worthing district over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 1,573 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 422 |
| On or near Parking Area | 380 |
| On or near Park Avenue | 223 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 214 |
| On or near Police Station | 151 |
| On or near Market Street | 129 |
| On or near Lyons Way | 127 |
| On or near Nightclub | 112 |
| On or near South Street | 100 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Worthing district 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 | 3,659 | 32.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,785 | 24.5% |
| Not recorded | 2,282 | 20.1% |
| Under investigation | 771 | 6.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 751 | 6.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 382 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 276 | 2.4% |
| Local resolution | 252 | 2.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 79 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 77 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 26 | 0.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 18 | 0.2% |
Worthing district has an estimated population of 113,866. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Worthing district sits in decile 6.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Worthing district |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.1% |
| Social rented homes | 9.8% |
| Private rented homes | 22.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 |
Is Worthing district a safe place to live?
Worthing district recorded 99.9 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 Worthing district?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,492 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (2,282).
Is crime in Worthing district going up or down?
Recorded crime in Worthing district was up 8% on the year before: 11,373 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 10,485 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Worthing district?
Worthing district 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 Worthing district. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.