Crime in Forest Row, Wealden: statistics, rates and trends
433 crimes were recorded in Forest Row, Wealden in the 12 months to August 2026, 110.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Forest Row, Wealden at a glance
- Crime trends in Forest Row, Wealden
- Types of crime in Forest Row, Wealden
- Forest Row, Wealden compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Forest Row, Wealden
- What happened after crimes were reported in Forest Row, Wealden
- Demographics of Forest Row, Wealden
- Questions about crime in Forest Row, Wealden
- About this data
Crime map
Shoplifting (179), violence and sexual offences (87) and anti-social behaviour (66) made up 77% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,002nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Forest Row, Wealden | Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 433 | 9,107 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 110.6 | 54.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 3,914 | 166,908 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Forest Row, Wealden peaked in the year to August 2025 (450 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (215). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 78%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 433 | 110.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 450 | 115.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 220 | 56.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 261 | 66.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 238 | 60.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 292 | 74.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 270 | 69.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 215 | 54.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 243 | 62.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 22 |
| July 2026 | 40 |
| June 2026 | 34 |
| May 2026 | 36 |
| April 2026 | 44 |
| March 2026 | 32 |
| February 2026 | 36 |
| January 2026 | 31 |
| December 2025 | 38 |
| November 2025 | 36 |
| October 2025 | 49 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
Compared with England and Wales, Forest Row, Wealden recorded notably more shoplifting (5.4 times the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (35% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 44 to 66 and criminal damage and arson rose from 22 to 28, while shoplifting fell from 229 to 179.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 179 | 45.7 | 8.5 | -22% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 87 | 22.2 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 66 | 16.9 | 15.4 | +50% |
| Other theft | 29 | 7.4 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 28 | 7.2 | 6.7 | +27% |
| Public order | 16 | 4.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 7 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Forest Row, Wealden has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Forest Row, Wealden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danehill & Fletching | 212 | 39.8 | -64% |
| Withyham | 87 | 26.6 | -76% |
| Maresfield | 216 | 56.9 | -49% |
| Crowborough Central | 232 | 61.5 | -44% |
| Crowborough North | 275 | 43.9 | -60% |
| Crowborough South East | 121 | 32.1 | -71% |
| Crowborough South West | 167 | 46.2 | -58% |
| Buxted | 109 | 26.9 | -76% |
The 10 locations below account for 75% of the crime recorded in Forest Row, Wealden over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (202).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 202 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 21 |
| On or near Hartfield Road | 16 |
| On or near Stonedene Close | 16 |
| On or near Waterworks Close | 14 |
| On or near Lewes Road | 13 |
| On or near Medway Drive | 13 |
| On or near Evelyn Clark Square | 12 |
| On or near Hillside | 10 |
| On or near Hatch End | 9 |
Of the 367 crimes in Forest Row, Wealden with a recorded outcome, 72% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales. The 66 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 263 | 71.7% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 69 | 18.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 13 | 3.5% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 3.3% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 1.9% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.3% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Forest Row, Wealden has an estimated population of 3,914 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (10%, against 23%), fewer residents with no qualifications (10%, against 18%) and less social housing (9.8%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Forest Row, Wealden average decile 7.4 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Forest Row, Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 45.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 10.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Forest Row, Wealden a safe place to live?
Forest Row, Wealden recorded 110.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,002nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Forest Row, Wealden?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 179 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (87).
Is crime in Forest Row, Wealden going up or down?
Recorded crime in Forest Row, Wealden was down 4% on the year before: 433 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 450 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Forest Row, Wealden?
About 3,914 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Forest Row, Wealden?
Forest Row, Wealden 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.