Crime in East Preston: statistics, rates and trends
179 crimes were recorded in East Preston in the 12 months to July 2026, 24.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 27% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in East Preston at a glance
- Crime trends in East Preston
- Types of crime in East Preston
- East Preston compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in East Preston
- What happened after crimes were reported in East Preston
- Population and deprivation in East Preston
- Questions about crime in East Preston
- About this data
179 crimes were recorded in East Preston in the 12 months to July 2026, 24.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 27% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 74 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, East Preston has the 3,874th highest crime rate.
| Measure | East Preston | Arun | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 179 | 15,051 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 24.4 | 88.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -27% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 7,339 | 170,064 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in East Preston was highest in the year to July 2021 (403 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (179). Over the whole period it fell 47%, 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 | 179 | 24.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 246 | 33.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 244 | 33.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 283 | 38.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 286 | 39.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 403 | 54.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 329 | 44.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 331 | 45.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 338 | 46.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 22 |
| June 2026 | 18 |
| May 2026 | 23 |
| April 2026 | 6 |
| March 2026 | 15 |
| February 2026 | 14 |
| January 2026 | 10 |
| December 2025 | 15 |
| November 2025 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 14 |
| September 2025 | 14 |
| August 2025 | 18 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in East Preston 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. The largest falls were in public order (-66%) and anti-social behaviour (-34%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 74 | 10.1 | 0.29 | -21% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 35 | 4.8 | 0.31 | -34% |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 2.0 | 0.41 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 14 | 1.9 | 0.28 | -26% |
| Public order | 10 | 1.4 | 0.21 | -66% |
| Other theft | 8 | 1.1 | 0.17 | -43% |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.7 | 0.21 | -29% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.7 | 0.32 | +25% |
| Shoplifting | 5 | 0.7 | 0.08 | +67% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.4 | 0.42 | +200% |
| Burglary | 2 | 0.3 | 0.08 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.17 | -50% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in East Preston
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East Preston recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 41.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in East Preston
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East Preston recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 19.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in East Preston
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East Preston recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in East Preston
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East Preston recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in East Preston
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East Preston recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 66% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in East Preston
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East Preston recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in East Preston
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East Preston recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in East Preston
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East Preston recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in East Preston
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East Preston recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in East Preston
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East Preston recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in East Preston
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East Preston recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in East Preston
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East Preston recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in East Preston
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. East Preston recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 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 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in East Preston
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East Preston recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to East Preston, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East Preston.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs East Preston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rustington East | 590 | 110.9 | +355% |
| Rustington West | 395 | 48.1 | +97% |
| Ferring | 294 | 61.1 | +150% |
| Angmering & Findon | 659 | 54.0 | +121% |
| Brookfield | 347 | 53.5 | +119% |
| Beach | 290 | 62.5 | +156% |
| River | 1,757 | 191.7 | +686% |
| Courtwick with Toddington | 1,206 | 95.0 | +290% |
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 East Preston over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Farm Acre | 11 |
| On or near Beechlands Close | 10 |
| On or near Roundstone Drive | 10 |
| On or near Mendip Close | 8 |
| On or near Cotswold Way | 7 |
| On or near Sea Road | 7 |
| On or near Vicarage Lane | 6 |
| On or near Roundstone Crescent | 6 |
| On or near Hillview Crescent | 5 |
| On or near Langmead Close | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East Preston 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 | 65 | 36.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 41 | 22.9% |
| Not recorded | 35 | 19.6% |
| Under investigation | 16 | 8.9% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 2.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 2.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 2.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 1.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.6% |
East Preston has an estimated population of 7,339. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East Preston sits in decile 7.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | East Preston |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 9.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 45.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 44.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 81.8% |
| Social rented homes | 9.6% |
| Private rented homes | 8.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.5 |
Is East Preston a safe place to live?
East Preston recorded 24.4 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 East Preston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (35).
Is crime in East Preston going up or down?
Recorded crime in East Preston was down 27% on the year before: 179 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 246 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers East Preston?
East Preston 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 Preston. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.