Crime in Preston Park: statistics, rates and trends
966 crimes were recorded in Preston Park in the 12 months to August 2026, 54.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Preston Park at a glance
- Crime trends in Preston Park
- Types of crime in Preston Park
- Preston Park compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Preston Park
- What happened after crimes were reported in Preston Park
- Demographics of Preston Park
- Questions about crime in Preston Park
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (270), anti-social behaviour (269) and public order (71) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,832nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Preston Park | Brighton and Hove | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 966 | 35,519 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 54.9 | 125.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +9% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 17,598 | 283,870 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Preston Park peaked in the year to August 2021 (1,384 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (884). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 966 | 54.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 884 | 50.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 908 | 51.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,010 | 57.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,118 | 63.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,384 | 78.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,280 | 72.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,075 | 61.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,127 | 64.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99 |
| July 2026 | 109 |
| June 2026 | 71 |
| May 2026 | 78 |
| April 2026 | 93 |
| March 2026 | 94 |
| February 2026 | 85 |
| January 2026 | 66 |
| December 2025 | 70 |
| November 2025 | 66 |
| October 2025 | 81 |
| September 2025 | 54 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (55% below) and vehicle crime (51% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 144 to 269 and drugs rose from 40 to 54, while vehicle crime fell from 51 to 43.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 270 | 15.3 | 34.2 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 269 | 15.3 | 15.4 | +87% |
| Public order | 71 | 4.0 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Other theft | 67 | 3.8 | 6.4 | -8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 63 | 3.6 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Drugs | 54 | 3.1 | 3.3 | +35% |
| Burglary | 45 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -4% |
| Vehicle crime | 43 | 2.4 | 5.0 | -16% |
| Other crime | 27 | 1.5 | 2.1 | +29% |
| Bicycle theft | 19 | 1.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 9 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 4 | 0.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Preston Park; the highest is Regency (631.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Westdene & Hove Park (50.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Preston Park |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollingdean & Fiveways | 1,038 | 68.4 | +25% |
| Round Hill | 907 | 105.8 | +93% |
| Goldsmid | 915 | 63.3 | +15% |
| West Hill & North Laine | 5,217 | 483.6 | +781% |
| Westdene & Hove Park | 803 | 50.0 | -9% |
| Regency | 6,318 | 631.1 | +1050% |
| Brunswick & Adelaide | 900 | 87.8 | +60% |
| Hanover & Elm Grove | 1,093 | 69.8 | +27% |
The 10 locations below account for 34% of the crime recorded in Preston Park over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Beaconsfield Road” (58).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Beaconsfield Road | 58 |
| On or near Dyke Road Drive | 45 |
| On or near Preston Road | 37 |
| On or near Cumberland Drive | 35 |
| On or near Parkmore Terrace | 30 |
| On or near London Road | 28 |
| On or near Campbell Road | 27 |
| On or near Winchester Street | 24 |
| On or near Withdean Court Avenue | 24 |
| On or near The Approach | 23 |
Of the 697 crimes in Preston Park with a recorded outcome, 45% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 269 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 316 | 45.3% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 193 | 27.7% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 81 | 11.6% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 34 | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 26 | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 24 | 3.4% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.0% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% | 0.6% |
Preston Park has an estimated population of 17,598 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more private renting (36%, against 20%), more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (57%, against 34%) and less social housing (5.4%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Preston Park average decile 7.6 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Preston Park | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 66.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 13.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 11.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 57.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 7.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 33.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 58.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 5.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 36.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Preston Park a safe place to live?
Preston Park recorded 54.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,832nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Preston Park?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 270 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (269).
Is crime in Preston Park going up or down?
Recorded crime in Preston Park was up 9% on the year before: 966 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 884 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Preston Park?
About 17,598 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Preston Park?
Preston Park 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.