Crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead: statistics, rates and trends
194 crimes were recorded in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead in the 12 months to August 2026, 35.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead at a glance
- Crime trends in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
- Types of crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
- Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
- Demographics of Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
- Questions about crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (68), anti-social behaviour (33) and criminal damage and arson (22) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,628th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead | Horsham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 194 | 8,635 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 35.2 | 57.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,510 | 151,521 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead peaked in the year to August 2020 (245 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (185). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 4%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 194 | 35.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 191 | 34.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 223 | 40.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 199 | 36.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 185 | 33.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 213 | 38.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 245 | 44.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 231 | 41.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 186 | 33.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 21 |
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 13 |
| May 2026 | 18 |
| April 2026 | 15 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| February 2026 | 10 |
| January 2026 | 18 |
| December 2025 | 19 |
| November 2025 | 15 |
| October 2025 | 17 |
| September 2025 | 20 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (64% below) and anti-social behaviour (61% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 53 to 68.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 68 | 12.3 | 34.2 | +28% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 33 | 6.0 | 15.4 | +10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 22 | 4.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 17 | 3.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 17 | 3.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 16 | 2.9 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 5 | 0.9 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead; the highest is Denne (186.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Southwater North (27.6).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henfield | 326 | 55.2 | +57% |
| Nuthurst & Lower Beeding | 103 | 32.7 | -7% |
| Southwater South & Shipley | 411 | 50.2 | +42% |
| Southwater North | 184 | 27.6 | -22% |
| Bramber, Upper Beeding & Woodmancote | 194 | 36.4 | +3% |
| Steyning & Ashurst | 229 | 37.7 | +7% |
| Forest | 387 | 43.1 | +22% |
| Denne | 1,934 | 186.3 | +429% |
The 10 locations below account for 45% of the crime recorded in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (15).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 15 |
| On or near The Green | 12 |
| On or near Sake Ride Lane | 10 |
| On or near Fryland Lane | 9 |
| On or near Yew Tree Close | 9 |
| On or near Kennel Lane | 7 |
| On or near Mercers Mead | 7 |
| On or near Partridge Green Road | 7 |
| On or near Blanches Walk | 6 |
| On or near Fairfield Cottages | 6 |
Of the 161 crimes in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead with a recorded outcome, 49% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 33 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 79 | 49.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 50 | 31.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 15 | 9.3% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 11 | 6.8% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 1.2% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 1 | 0.6% | 4.7% |
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead has an estimated population of 5,510 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (5.1%, against 23.3%), less social housing (6.9%, against 17.1%) and an older population (27%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 59.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 5.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead a safe place to live?
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead recorded 35.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,628th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 68 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (33).
Is crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead was up 2% on the year before: 194 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 191 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead?
About 5,510 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead?
Cowfold, Shermanbury & West Grinstead is policed by Sussex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.