Crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill: statistics, rates and trends
181 crimes were recorded in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill in the 12 months to August 2026, 45.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill at a glance
- Crime trends in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
- Types of crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
- Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
- What happened after crimes were reported in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
- Demographics of Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
- Questions about crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (65), anti-social behaviour (41) and criminal damage and arson (23) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,239th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill | Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 181 | 9,107 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 45.1 | 54.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 4,014 | 166,908 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill peaked in the year to August 2019 (286 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (152). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 23%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 181 | 45.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 185 | 46.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 193 | 48.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 152 | 37.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 207 | 51.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 255 | 63.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 242 | 60.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 286 | 71.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 234 | 58.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 26 |
| July 2026 | 13 |
| June 2026 | 18 |
| May 2026 | 16 |
| April 2026 | 12 |
| March 2026 | 6 |
| February 2026 | 17 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 10 |
| November 2025 | 12 |
| October 2025 | 21 |
| September 2025 | 14 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (53% below) and anti-social behaviour (34% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 31 to 41, while violence and sexual offences fell from 84 to 65.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 65 | 16.2 | 34.2 | -23% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 41 | 10.2 | 15.4 | +32% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 23 | 5.7 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Public order | 20 | 5.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 9 | 2.2 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 1 | 0.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 1 | 0.2 | 5.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill; 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 South & Willingdon Watermill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polegate North | 346 | 95.1 | +111% |
| Lower Willingdon | 114 | 37.4 | -17% |
| Upper Willingdon | 213 | 61.6 | +37% |
| Polegate Central | 192 | 38.5 | -15% |
| Stone Cross | 295 | 52.4 | +16% |
| Hailsham South | 189 | 60.8 | +35% |
| Hailsham East | 434 | 83.3 | +85% |
| South Downs | 127 | 38.0 | -16% |
The 10 locations below account for 53% of the crime recorded in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Broad Road” (15).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Broad Road | 15 |
| On or near Park Croft | 12 |
| On or near Gainsborough Lane | 11 |
| On or near Windmill Place | 11 |
| On or near The Thatchings | 9 |
| On or near A2270 | 8 |
| On or near Bernhard Gardens | 8 |
| On or near Southfield | 8 |
| On or near Courtland Road | 7 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 7 |
Of the 140 crimes in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill with a recorded outcome, 42% 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 41 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 59 | 42.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 43 | 30.7% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 11 | 7.9% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 5.0% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 6 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 2.1% | 0.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 2 | 1.4% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 1.4% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill has an estimated population of 4,014 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (35%, against 19%), more retired residents (37%, against 22%) and less private renting (9.0%, against 20.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill average decile 6.4 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 34.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 37.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 80.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 9.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill a safe place to live?
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill recorded 45.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,239th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 65 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (41).
Is crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill going up or down?
Recorded crime in Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill was down 2% on the year before: 181 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 185 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill?
About 4,014 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 35% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill?
Polegate South & Willingdon Watermill 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.