Crime in Downland Villages: statistics, rates and trends
266 crimes were recorded in Downland Villages in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Downland Villages at a glance
- Crime trends in Downland Villages
- Types of crime in Downland Villages
- Downland Villages compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Downland Villages
- What happened after crimes were reported in Downland Villages
- Population and deprivation in Downland Villages
- Questions about crime in Downland Villages
- About this data
266 crimes were recorded in Downland Villages in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before. The most common offence was anti-social behaviour, with 71 reports (27% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Downland Villages has the 2,120th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Downland Villages | Mid Sussex | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 266 | 9,703 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.6 | 60.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 3,663 | 161,755 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Downland Villages was highest in the year to July 2018 (300 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (219). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 | 266 | 72.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 270 | 73.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 249 | 68.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 219 | 59.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 220 | 60.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 250 | 68.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 284 | 77.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 260 | 71.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 300 | 81.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 38 |
| June 2026 | 26 |
| May 2026 | 33 |
| April 2026 | 16 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| January 2026 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 20 |
| November 2025 | 15 |
| October 2025 | 13 |
| September 2025 | 21 |
| August 2025 | 29 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Downland Villages 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, burglary.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+27%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-social behaviour | 71 | 19.4 | 1.26 | +27% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 71 | 19.4 | 0.57 | -8% |
| Burglary | 28 | 7.6 | 2.16 | +0% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25 | 6.8 | 1.01 | -11% |
| Other theft | 17 | 4.6 | 0.73 | -11% |
| Public order | 16 | 4.4 | 0.66 | +7% |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 3.3 | 0.67 | +9% |
| Drugs | 11 | 3.0 | 0.92 | -15% |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.6 | 0.78 | -62% |
| Shoplifting | 4 | 1.1 | 0.13 | +300% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.5 | 0.66 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.5 | 0.56 | -50% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.3 | 0.20 | n/a |
Anti-social behaviour in Downland Villages
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Downland Villages recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 26.7% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in Downland Villages
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Downland Villages recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 26.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Downland Villages
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Downland Villages recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Downland Villages
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Downland Villages recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 9.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Downland Villages
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Downland Villages recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Downland Villages
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Downland Villages recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Downland Villages
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Downland Villages recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Downland Villages
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Downland Villages recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Downland Villages
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Downland Villages recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Downland Villages
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Downland Villages recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Downland Villages
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Downland Villages recorded 2 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Downland Villages
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Downland Villages recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Downland Villages
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Downland Villages recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Downland Villages, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Downland Villages.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Downland Villages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurstpierpoint | 772 | 103.5 | +43% |
| Burgess Hill Dunstall | 255 | 48.6 | -33% |
| Burgess Hill Victoria | 284 | 60.7 | -16% |
| Burgess Hill Meeds & Hammonds | 816 | 121.5 | +67% |
| Burgess Hill Leylands | 417 | 79.2 | +9% |
| Hassocks | 449 | 48.8 | -33% |
| Burgess Hill Franklands | 202 | 38.6 | -47% |
| Burgess Hill St Andrews | 502 | 69.6 | -4% |
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 Downland Villages over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 40 |
| On or near Willow Gardens | 20 |
| On or near Blackthorns | 17 |
| On or near Mayfields | 15 |
| On or near Willow Way | 15 |
| On or near Dunlop Close | 13 |
| On or near Arun Beck | 11 |
| On or near Crossways | 10 |
| On or near Hickstead Lane | 10 |
| On or near Parking Area | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Downland Villages 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 | 86 | 32.3% |
| Not recorded | 71 | 26.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 52 | 19.5% |
| Under investigation | 28 | 10.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 10 | 3.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 3.4% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 2.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.4% |
Downland Villages has an estimated population of 3,663. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Downland Villages sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Downland Villages |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.3% |
| Social rented homes | 20.4% |
| Private rented homes | 11.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
Is Downland Villages a safe place to live?
Downland Villages recorded 72.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Downland Villages?
Anti-social behaviour was the most common category, with 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (71).
Is crime in Downland Villages going up or down?
Recorded crime in Downland Villages was down 1% on the year before: 266 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 270 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Downland Villages?
Downland Villages 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 Downland Villages. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.