Crime in Central Hove: statistics, rates and trends
1,495 crimes were recorded in Central Hove in the 12 months to July 2026, 125.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Central Hove at a glance
- Crime trends in Central Hove
- Types of crime in Central Hove
- Central Hove compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Central Hove
- What happened after crimes were reported in Central Hove
- Population and deprivation in Central Hove
- Questions about crime in Central Hove
- About this data
1,495 crimes were recorded in Central Hove in the 12 months to July 2026, 125.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 330 reports (22% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Central Hove has the 747th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Central Hove | Brighton and Hove | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,495 | 35,086 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 125.7 | 123.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -0% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 11,898 | 283,870 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Central Hove was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,733 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (1,399). Over the whole period it fell 14%, 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 | 1,495 | 125.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,500 | 126.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,545 | 129.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,640 | 137.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,399 | 117.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,616 | 135.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,648 | 138.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,501 | 126.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,733 | 145.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 163 |
| June 2026 | 121 |
| May 2026 | 172 |
| April 2026 | 112 |
| March 2026 | 112 |
| February 2026 | 106 |
| January 2026 | 111 |
| December 2025 | 82 |
| November 2025 | 81 |
| October 2025 | 144 |
| September 2025 | 145 |
| August 2025 | 146 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Central Hove 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 shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, public order.
The largest increases were in other crime (+25%) and other theft (+12%). The largest falls were in burglary (-32%) and criminal damage and arson (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 330 | 27.7 | 0.81 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 322 | 27.1 | 3.27 | +0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 280 | 23.5 | 1.53 | +10% |
| Public order | 123 | 10.3 | 1.56 | -11% |
| Other theft | 111 | 9.3 | 1.46 | +12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 75 | 6.3 | 0.93 | -31% |
| Vehicle crime | 48 | 4.0 | 0.82 | -8% |
| Drugs | 44 | 3.7 | 1.13 | +5% |
| Other crime | 40 | 3.4 | 1.59 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 37 | 3.1 | 3.78 | +0% |
| Burglary | 32 | 2.7 | 0.76 | -32% |
| Robbery | 22 | 1.8 | 1.37 | +16% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.7 | 1.73 | +82% |
| Theft from the person | 11 | 0.9 | 0.55 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Central Hove
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Central Hove recorded 330 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 22.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Central Hove
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Central Hove recorded 322 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 21.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Central Hove
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Central Hove recorded 280 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 18.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Central Hove
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Central Hove recorded 123 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Central Hove
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Central Hove recorded 111 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Central Hove
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Central Hove recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Central Hove
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Central Hove recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 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 Central Hove
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Central Hove recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Central Hove
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Central Hove recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Central Hove
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Central Hove recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Central Hove
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Central Hove recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Central Hove
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Central Hove recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Central Hove
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Central Hove recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 82% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Central Hove
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Central Hove recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Central Hove, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Central Hove.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Central Hove |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westbourne & Poets' Corner | 636 | 60.6 | -52% |
| Goldsmid | 889 | 61.5 | -51% |
| Brunswick & Adelaide | 877 | 85.6 | -32% |
| Regency | 6,264 | 625.7 | +398% |
| Wish | 782 | 78.0 | -38% |
| Westdene & Hove Park | 783 | 48.7 | -61% |
| Preston Park | 963 | 54.7 | -56% |
| West Hill & North Laine | 5,236 | 485.4 | +286% |
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 Central Hove over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 237 |
| On or near Haddington Close | 130 |
| On or near George Street | 118 |
| On or near St Aubyns South | 80 |
| On or near Haddington Street | 73 |
| On or near Wilbury Grove | 46 |
| On or near Hove Place | 45 |
| On or near Tisbury Road | 42 |
| On or near Seafield Road | 39 |
| On or near Albany Mews | 37 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Central Hove 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 | 644 | 43.1% |
| Not recorded | 280 | 18.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 258 | 17.3% |
| Under investigation | 109 | 7.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 70 | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 45 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 44 | 2.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 31 | 2.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Central Hove has an estimated population of 11,898. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Central Hove sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Central Hove |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 9.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 78.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 39.8% |
| Social rented homes | 6.0% |
| Private rented homes | 54.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
Is Central Hove a safe place to live?
Central Hove recorded 125.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than 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 Central Hove?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 330 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (322).
Is crime in Central Hove going up or down?
Recorded crime in Central Hove was almost unchanged on the year before: 1,495 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,500 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Central Hove?
Central Hove 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 Central Hove. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.