Crime in Hailsham West: statistics, rates and trends
371 crimes were recorded in Hailsham West in the 12 months to August 2026, 84.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 43% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Hailsham West at a glance
- Crime trends in Hailsham West
- Types of crime in Hailsham West
- Hailsham West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Hailsham West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Hailsham West
- Demographics of Hailsham West
- Questions about crime in Hailsham West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (105), anti-social behaviour (103) and shoplifting (41) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,705th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Hailsham West | Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 371 | 9,107 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 84.2 | 54.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +43% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 4,406 | 166,908 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Hailsham West peaked in the year to August 2020 (401 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (249). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 2%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 371 | 84.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 259 | 58.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 249 | 56.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 321 | 72.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 321 | 72.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 291 | 66.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 401 | 91.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 368 | 83.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 365 | 82.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 25 |
| July 2026 | 34 |
| June 2026 | 27 |
| May 2026 | 34 |
| April 2026 | 18 |
| March 2026 | 27 |
| February 2026 | 21 |
| January 2026 | 38 |
| December 2025 | 22 |
| November 2025 | 61 |
| October 2025 | 33 |
| September 2025 | 31 |
Compared with England and Wales, Hailsham West recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (52% above the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (30% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 49 to 103 and criminal damage and arson rose from 25 to 30.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 105 | 23.8 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 103 | 23.4 | 15.4 | +110% |
| Shoplifting | 41 | 9.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 30 | 6.8 | 6.7 | +20% |
| Public order | 28 | 6.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 24 | 5.4 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 2.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 10 | 2.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 10 | 2.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 3 | 0.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Hailsham West; the highest is Hailsham Central (119.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Polegate Central (38.5).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hailsham West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hailsham South | 189 | 60.8 | -28% |
| Hailsham Central | 643 | 119.7 | +42% |
| Hailsham North West | 240 | 60.7 | -28% |
| Hailsham East | 434 | 83.3 | -1% |
| Hellingly | 473 | 87.8 | +4% |
| Polegate North | 346 | 95.1 | +13% |
| Polegate Central | 192 | 38.5 | -54% |
| Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill | 181 | 45.1 | -46% |
The 10 locations below account for 57% of the crime recorded in Hailsham West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (78).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 78 |
| On or near Ropemaker Park | 23 |
| On or near Ash Court | 19 |
| On or near Pine Way | 18 |
| On or near Silverdale Court | 14 |
| On or near The Hawthorns | 14 |
| On or near Diplocks Way | 12 |
| On or near The Belfry | 12 |
| On or near Tennis Close | 11 |
| On or near Western Road | 11 |
Of the 268 crimes in Hailsham West with a recorded outcome, 45% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 103 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 121 | 45.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 76 | 28.4% | 34.5% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 7.1% | 3.1% |
| Under investigation | 19 | 7.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9 | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 2.2% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
Hailsham West has an estimated population of 4,406 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.0%, against 7.9%), less private renting (13%, against 20%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (22%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Hailsham West average decile 5.9 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Hailsham West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Hailsham West a safe place to live?
Hailsham West recorded 84.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,705th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Hailsham West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 105 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (103).
Is crime in Hailsham West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hailsham West was up 43% on the year before: 371 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 259 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Hailsham West?
About 4,406 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Hailsham West?
Hailsham West 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.