Crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean: statistics, rates and trends
465 crimes were recorded in Rottingdean & West Saltdean in the 12 months to July 2026, 43.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- Questions about crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
- About this data
465 crimes were recorded in Rottingdean & West Saltdean in the 12 months to July 2026, 43.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 146 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Rottingdean & West Saltdean has the 3,323rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Rottingdean & West Saltdean | Brighton and Hove | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 465 | 35,086 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 43.3 | 123.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 10,736 | 283,870 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean was highest in the year to July 2021 (553 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (451). Over the whole period it fell 5%, 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 | 465 | 43.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 451 | 42.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 483 | 45.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 492 | 45.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 468 | 43.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 553 | 51.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 545 | 50.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 549 | 51.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 489 | 45.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 45 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Rottingdean & West Saltdean 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. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+33%).
The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-29%) and other theft (-19%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 146 | 13.6 | 0.40 | -14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 112 | 10.4 | 0.68 | +33% |
| Public order | 44 | 4.1 | 0.62 | -10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34 | 3.2 | 0.47 | -29% |
| Shoplifting | 32 | 3.0 | 0.36 | +700% |
| Other theft | 29 | 2.7 | 0.42 | -19% |
| Burglary | 21 | 2.0 | 0.55 | +5% |
| Other crime | 15 | 1.4 | 0.66 | +67% |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 1.1 | 0.23 | +71% |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.6 | 0.17 | -62% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.5 | 0.48 | -17% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.4 | 0.45 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 0.28 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.06 | -67% |
Violence and sexual offences in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 31.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 112 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 24.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 700% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 71% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 5 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 down 17% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Rottingdean & West Saltdean
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Rottingdean & West Saltdean, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Rottingdean & West Saltdean.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Rottingdean & West Saltdean |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodingdean | 473 | 49.6 | +15% |
| Whitehawk & Marina | 2,008 | 163.2 | +277% |
| Kemptown | 3,406 | 282.0 | +551% |
| Queen's Park | 1,167 | 114.0 | +163% |
| Moulsecoomb & Bevendean | 1,337 | 84.1 | +94% |
| Hanover & Elm Grove | 1,066 | 68.1 | +57% |
| Round Hill | 886 | 103.3 | +139% |
| West Hill & North Laine | 5,236 | 485.4 | +1021% |
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 Rottingdean & West Saltdean over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 42 |
| On or near Supermarket | 38 |
| On or near The Vale | 33 |
| On or near Coombe Meadow | 18 |
| On or near Park Crescent | 17 |
| On or near West Street | 17 |
| On or near Wanderdown Drive | 14 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 13 |
| On or near Withyham Avenue | 13 |
| On or near Suez Way | 12 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rottingdean & West Saltdean 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 | 161 | 34.6% |
| Not recorded | 112 | 24.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 106 | 22.8% |
| Under investigation | 29 | 6.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 16 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 15 | 3.2% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.2% |
Rottingdean & West Saltdean has an estimated population of 10,736. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rottingdean & West Saltdean sits in decile 7.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Rottingdean & West Saltdean |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.0% |
| Social rented homes | 4.3% |
| Private rented homes | 16.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 |
Is Rottingdean & West Saltdean a safe place to live?
Rottingdean & West Saltdean recorded 43.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 Rottingdean & West Saltdean?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (112).
Is crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean going up or down?
Recorded crime in Rottingdean & West Saltdean was up 3% on the year before: 465 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 451 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Rottingdean & West Saltdean?
Rottingdean & West Saltdean 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 Rottingdean & West Saltdean. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.