Crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean: statistics, rates and trends
480 crimes were recorded in Rottingdean & West Saltdean in the 12 months to August 2026, 44.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean at a glance
- Crime trends in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- Types of crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- Rottingdean & West Saltdean compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- What happened after crimes were reported in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- Demographics of Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- Questions about crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (155), anti-social behaviour (123) and public order (44) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,260th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Rottingdean & West Saltdean | Brighton and Hove | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 480 | 35,519 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 44.7 | 125.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 10,736 | 283,870 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean peaked in the year to August 2020 (570 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (448). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 2%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 480 | 44.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 448 | 41.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 490 | 45.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 494 | 46.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 449 | 41.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 536 | 49.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 570 | 53.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 551 | 51.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 492 | 45.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 60 |
| July 2026 | 54 |
| June 2026 | 63 |
| May 2026 | 37 |
| April 2026 | 39 |
| March 2026 | 39 |
| February 2026 | 36 |
| January 2026 | 35 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 32 |
| October 2025 | 24 |
| September 2025 | 32 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (64% below) and other theft (58% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 84 to 123, while criminal damage and arson fell from 45 to 32 and other theft fell from 36 to 29.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 155 | 14.4 | 34.2 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 123 | 11.5 | 15.4 | +46% |
| Public order | 44 | 4.1 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 33 | 3.1 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 32 | 3.0 | 6.7 | -29% |
| Other theft | 29 | 2.7 | 6.4 | -19% |
| Burglary | 22 | 2.0 | 3.6 | +5% |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.1 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 1.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Rottingdean & West Saltdean.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Rottingdean & West Saltdean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodingdean | 473 | 49.6 | +11% |
| Whitehawk & Marina | 2,024 | 164.5 | +268% |
| Kemptown | 3,443 | 285.1 | +538% |
| Queen's Park | 1,183 | 115.6 | +159% |
| Moulsecoomb & Bevendean | 1,393 | 87.6 | +96% |
| Hanover & Elm Grove | 1,093 | 69.8 | +56% |
| Round Hill | 907 | 105.8 | +137% |
| West Hill & North Laine | 5,217 | 483.6 | +982% |
The 10 locations below account for 49% of the crime recorded in Rottingdean & West Saltdean over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (45).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 45 |
| On or near Supermarket | 39 |
| On or near The Vale | 37 |
| On or near Coombe Meadow | 19 |
| On or near Withyham Avenue | 19 |
| On or near Park Crescent | 18 |
| On or near West Street | 17 |
| On or near Wanderdown Drive | 14 |
| On or near Suez Way | 13 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 12 |
Of the 357 crimes in Rottingdean & West Saltdean with a recorded outcome, 43% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 123 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 152 | 42.6% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 111 | 31.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 9.0% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 21 | 5.9% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 2.2% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Rottingdean & West Saltdean has an estimated population of 10,736 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (4.3%, against 17.1%), an older population (30%, against 19%) and more retired residents (32%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Rottingdean & West Saltdean average decile 7.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Rottingdean & West Saltdean | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 42.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 4.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Rottingdean & West Saltdean a safe place to live?
Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 44.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,260th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 155 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (123).
Is crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean going up or down?
Recorded crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean was up 7% on the year before: 480 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 448 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Rottingdean & West Saltdean?
About 10,736 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 30% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Rottingdean & West Saltdean?
Rottingdean & West Saltdean 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.