Crime in Polegate North: statistics, rates and trends
372 crimes were recorded in Polegate North in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Polegate North at a glance
- Crime trends in Polegate North
- Types of crime in Polegate North
- Polegate North compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Polegate North
- What happened after crimes were reported in Polegate North
- Population and deprivation in Polegate North
- Questions about crime in Polegate North
- About this data
372 crimes were recorded in Polegate North in the 12 months to July 2026, 102.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was shoplifting, with 115 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Polegate North has the 1,186th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Polegate North | Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 372 | 9,033 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 102.3 | 54.1 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | +10% | -1% |
| Population | 3,637 | 166,908 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Polegate North was highest in the year to July 2025 (401 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (287). Over the whole period it rose 17%, 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 | 372 | 102.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 401 | 110.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 392 | 107.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 333 | 91.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 287 | 78.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 292 | 80.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 325 | 89.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 348 | 95.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 317 | 87.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 27 |
| June 2026 | 27 |
| May 2026 | 35 |
| April 2026 | 45 |
| March 2026 | 38 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| January 2026 | 25 |
| December 2025 | 19 |
| November 2025 | 19 |
| October 2025 | 22 |
| September 2025 | 23 |
| August 2025 | 50 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Polegate North 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 shoplifting, other crime.
The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+38%) and anti-social behaviour (+16%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-38%) and public order (-12%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 115 | 31.6 | 3.82 | -38% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 88 | 24.2 | 0.71 | +38% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 66 | 18.1 | 1.18 | +16% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 24 | 6.6 | 0.97 | +26% |
| Public order | 21 | 5.8 | 0.87 | -12% |
| Other theft | 20 | 5.5 | 0.86 | +33% |
| Other crime | 10 | 2.7 | 1.30 | -9% |
| Burglary | 8 | 2.2 | 0.62 | +33% |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 2.2 | 0.45 | -27% |
| Drugs | 4 | 1.1 | 0.34 | +100% |
| Robbery | 4 | 1.1 | 0.81 | +33% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.5 | 0.57 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.3 | 0.33 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.3 | 0.16 | n/a |
Shoplifting in Polegate North
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Polegate North recorded 115 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 30.9% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in Polegate North
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Polegate North recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 23.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Polegate North
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Polegate North recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 17.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Polegate North
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Polegate North recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Polegate North
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Polegate North recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Polegate North
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Polegate North recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Polegate North
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Polegate North recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Polegate North
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Polegate North recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Polegate North
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Polegate North recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Polegate North
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Polegate North recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Polegate North
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Polegate North recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Polegate North
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Polegate North 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Polegate North
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Polegate North recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Polegate North
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Polegate North recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Polegate North, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Polegate North.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Polegate North |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill | 163 | 40.6 | -60% |
| Polegate Central | 188 | 37.7 | -63% |
| Lower Willingdon | 106 | 34.7 | -66% |
| Upper Willingdon | 209 | 60.5 | -41% |
| Hailsham South | 194 | 62.4 | -39% |
| Stone Cross | 285 | 50.6 | -51% |
| Hailsham East | 428 | 82.1 | -20% |
| Hailsham West | 370 | 84.0 | -18% |
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 Polegate North over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 75 |
| On or near High Street | 70 |
| On or near Junction Street | 47 |
| On or near Cross Street | 20 |
| On or near School Lane | 17 |
| On or near Primrose Way | 13 |
| On or near Parking Area | 11 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 11 |
| On or near Brook Street | 9 |
| On or near Gilda Close | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Polegate North 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 | 197 | 53.0% |
| Not recorded | 66 | 17.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 61 | 16.4% |
| Under investigation | 16 | 4.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 10 | 2.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.2% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 1.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
Polegate North has an estimated population of 3,637. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Polegate North sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Polegate North |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.8% |
| Social rented homes | 5.4% |
| Private rented homes | 23.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
Is Polegate North a safe place to live?
Polegate North recorded 102.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Polegate North?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 115 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (88).
Is crime in Polegate North going up or down?
Recorded crime in Polegate North was down 7% on the year before: 372 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 401 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Polegate North?
Polegate North 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 Polegate North. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.