Crime in Polegate Central: statistics, rates and trends
192 crimes were recorded in Polegate Central in the 12 months to August 2026, 38.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 18% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Polegate Central at a glance
- Crime trends in Polegate Central
- Types of crime in Polegate Central
- Polegate Central compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Polegate Central
- What happened after crimes were reported in Polegate Central
- Demographics of Polegate Central
- Questions about crime in Polegate Central
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (72), anti-social behaviour (53) and criminal damage and arson (26) made up 79% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,494th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Polegate Central | Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 192 | 9,107 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 38.5 | 54.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -18% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 4,992 | 166,908 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Polegate Central peaked in the year to August 2025 (235 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (127). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 51%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 192 | 38.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 235 | 47.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 212 | 42.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 169 | 33.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 205 | 41.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 228 | 45.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 187 | 37.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 201 | 40.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 127 | 25.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 32 |
| July 2026 | 23 |
| June 2026 | 23 |
| May 2026 | 17 |
| April 2026 | 11 |
| March 2026 | 10 |
| February 2026 | 9 |
| January 2026 | 17 |
| December 2025 | 9 |
| November 2025 | 14 |
| October 2025 | 11 |
| September 2025 | 16 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (58% below) and anti-social behaviour (31% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 22 to 26.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 72 | 14.4 | 34.2 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 53 | 10.6 | 15.4 | -15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 26 | 5.2 | 6.7 | +18% |
| Public order | 17 | 3.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 8 | 1.6 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 4 | 0.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 3 | 0.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Polegate Central; the highest is Polegate North (95.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Lower Willingdon, Wealden (37.4).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Polegate Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polegate North | 346 | 95.1 | +147% |
| Upper Willingdon | 213 | 61.6 | +60% |
| Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill | 181 | 45.1 | +17% |
| Stone Cross | 295 | 52.4 | +36% |
| Lower Willingdon | 114 | 37.4 | -3% |
| Hailsham South | 189 | 60.8 | +58% |
| Hailsham East | 434 | 83.3 | +117% |
| Hailsham West | 371 | 84.2 | +119% |
The 10 locations below account for 53% of the crime recorded in Polegate Central over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Wellsbourne Road” (23).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Wellsbourne Road | 23 |
| On or near Darent Close | 14 |
| On or near Balmoral Mews | 11 |
| On or near Sandringham Lane | 10 |
| On or near Lavender Grove | 9 |
| On or near Heron Ridge | 8 |
| On or near Clarence Court | 7 |
| On or near Hamble Road | 7 |
| On or near Jubilee Drive | 6 |
| On or near Lynholm Road | 6 |
Of the 139 crimes in Polegate Central with a recorded outcome, 37% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 53 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 64 | 46.0% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 51 | 36.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 8 | 5.8% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 5 | 3.6% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 1.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 1.4% | 0.6% |
Polegate Central has an estimated population of 4,992 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (6.7%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (9.8%, against 23.3%) and less private renting (11%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Polegate Central average decile 7.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Polegate Central | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 82.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Polegate Central a safe place to live?
Polegate Central recorded 38.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,494th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Polegate Central?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 72 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (53).
Is crime in Polegate Central going up or down?
Recorded crime in Polegate Central was down 18% on the year before: 192 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 235 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Polegate Central?
About 4,992 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Polegate Central?
Polegate Central 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.