Crime in West Hill & North Laine: statistics, rates and trends
5,236 crimes were recorded in West Hill & North Laine in the 12 months to July 2026, 485.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in West Hill & North Laine at a glance
- Crime trends in West Hill & North Laine
- Types of crime in West Hill & North Laine
- West Hill & North Laine compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Hill & North Laine
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Hill & North Laine
- Population and deprivation in West Hill & North Laine
- Questions about crime in West Hill & North Laine
- About this data
5,236 crimes were recorded in West Hill & North Laine in the 12 months to July 2026, 485.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was shoplifting, with 1,383 reports (26% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, West Hill & North Laine has the 20th highest crime rate.
| Measure | West Hill & North Laine | Brighton and Hove | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 5,236 | 35,086 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 485.4 | 123.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 10,788 | 283,870 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in West Hill & North Laine was highest in the year to July 2025 (5,569 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (4,173). Over the whole period it rose 11%, 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 | 5,236 | 485.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 5,569 | 516.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 4,975 | 461.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 4,746 | 439.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 4,431 | 410.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 4,173 | 386.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 4,657 | 431.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 4,559 | 422.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 4,706 | 436.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 497 |
| June 2026 | 430 |
| May 2026 | 547 |
| April 2026 | 472 |
| March 2026 | 391 |
| February 2026 | 366 |
| January 2026 | 374 |
| December 2025 | 395 |
| November 2025 | 400 |
| October 2025 | 419 |
| September 2025 | 400 |
| August 2025 | 545 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Hill & North Laine 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, violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour.
The largest increases were in robbery (+49%) and anti-social behaviour (+12%). The largest falls were in burglary (-46%) and bicycle theft (-45%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 1,383 | 128.2 | 15.47 | +3% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,127 | 104.5 | 3.05 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,033 | 95.8 | 6.24 | +12% |
| Public order | 476 | 44.1 | 6.64 | -10% |
| Other theft | 275 | 25.5 | 3.99 | -26% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 222 | 20.6 | 3.03 | -8% |
| Drugs | 214 | 19.8 | 6.07 | +1% |
| Robbery | 104 | 9.6 | 7.14 | +49% |
| Burglary | 82 | 7.6 | 2.15 | -46% |
| Vehicle crime | 79 | 7.3 | 1.49 | -22% |
| Other crime | 73 | 6.8 | 3.20 | -28% |
| Theft from the person | 64 | 5.9 | 3.51 | -22% |
| Bicycle theft | 55 | 5.1 | 6.19 | -45% |
| Possession of weapons | 49 | 4.5 | 4.68 | -12% |
Shoplifting in West Hill & North Laine
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Hill & North Laine recorded 1,383 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (128.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 26.4% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in West Hill & North Laine
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Hill & North Laine recorded 1,127 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (104.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 21.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in West Hill & North Laine
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Hill & North Laine recorded 1,033 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (95.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 19.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in West Hill & North Laine
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Hill & North Laine recorded 476 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (44.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in West Hill & North Laine
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Hill & North Laine recorded 275 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in West Hill & North Laine
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Hill & North Laine recorded 222 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in West Hill & North Laine
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Hill & North Laine recorded 214 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in West Hill & North Laine
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Hill & North Laine recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 49% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in West Hill & North Laine
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Hill & North Laine recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 46% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in West Hill & North Laine
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Hill & North Laine recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in West Hill & North Laine
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Hill & North Laine recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in West Hill & North Laine
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Hill & North Laine recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in West Hill & North Laine
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Hill & North Laine recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in West Hill & North Laine
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Hill & North Laine recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to West Hill & North Laine, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Hill & North Laine.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Hill & North Laine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regency | 6,264 | 625.7 | +29% |
| Round Hill | 886 | 103.3 | -79% |
| Queen's Park | 1,167 | 114.0 | -77% |
| Hanover & Elm Grove | 1,066 | 68.1 | -86% |
| Brunswick & Adelaide | 877 | 85.6 | -82% |
| Preston Park | 963 | 54.7 | -89% |
| Goldsmid | 889 | 61.5 | -87% |
| Kemptown | 3,406 | 282.0 | -42% |
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 West Hill & North Laine over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 835 |
| On or near Marshalls Row | 271 |
| On or near Queen Square | 265 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 262 |
| On or near Parking Area | 181 |
| On or near New Road | 149 |
| On or near Windsor Street | 142 |
| On or near Prince'S Place | 132 |
| On or near Queen'S Road | 131 |
| On or near Frederick Street | 113 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Hill & North Laine 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 | 1,872 | 35.8% |
| Not recorded | 1,033 | 19.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 912 | 17.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 429 | 8.2% |
| Under investigation | 424 | 8.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 207 | 4.0% |
| Local resolution | 186 | 3.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 103 | 2.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 21 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 19 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 0.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.2% |
West Hill & North Laine has an estimated population of 10,788. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Hill & North Laine sits in decile 3.9, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | West Hill & North Laine |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 6.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 85.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 7.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 33.1% |
| Social rented homes | 14.2% |
| Private rented homes | 52.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.9 |
Is West Hill & North Laine a safe place to live?
West Hill & North Laine recorded 485.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 West Hill & North Laine?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 1,383 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (1,127).
Is crime in West Hill & North Laine going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Hill & North Laine was down 6% on the year before: 5,236 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 5,569 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers West Hill & North Laine?
West Hill & North Laine 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 West Hill & North Laine. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.