Crime in Bexhill-on-Sea: statistics, rates and trends
3,967 crimes were recorded in Bexhill-on-Sea in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Bexhill-on-Sea at a glance
- Crime trends in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Types of crime in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Bexhill-on-Sea compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Bexhill-on-Sea
- Streets with the most crime in Bexhill-on-Sea
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Population and deprivation in Bexhill-on-Sea
- Questions about crime in Bexhill-on-Sea
- About this data
3,967 crimes were recorded in Bexhill-on-Sea in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,326 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bexhill-on-Sea has the 531st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bexhill-on-Sea | Rother | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 3,967 | 6,900 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 85.9 | 71.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 46,206 | 96,133 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bexhill-on-Sea was highest in the year to July 2020 (4,438 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (3,491). Over the whole period it rose 14%, 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 | 3,967 | 85.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 4,241 | 91.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 4,150 | 89.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 3,808 | 82.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 3,663 | 79.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 4,048 | 87.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 4,438 | 96.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 4,009 | 86.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 3,491 | 75.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 452 |
| June 2026 | 372 |
| May 2026 | 386 |
| April 2026 | 270 |
| March 2026 | 346 |
| February 2026 | 276 |
| January 2026 | 253 |
| December 2025 | 295 |
| November 2025 | 293 |
| October 2025 | 352 |
| September 2025 | 336 |
| August 2025 | 336 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bexhill-on-Sea 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.
The largest increases were in robbery (+25%) and anti-social behaviour (+23%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-52%) and shoplifting (-35%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,326 | 28.7 | 0.84 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 855 | 18.5 | 1.21 | +23% |
| Shoplifting | 521 | 11.3 | 1.36 | -35% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 323 | 7.0 | 1.03 | -15% |
| Public order | 315 | 6.8 | 1.03 | -9% |
| Other theft | 194 | 4.2 | 0.66 | +1% |
| Vehicle crime | 101 | 2.2 | 0.44 | -2% |
| Burglary | 83 | 1.8 | 0.51 | +15% |
| Drugs | 68 | 1.5 | 0.45 | +0% |
| Other crime | 63 | 1.4 | 0.65 | -18% |
| Possession of weapons | 47 | 1.0 | 1.05 | +12% |
| Robbery | 35 | 0.8 | 0.56 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 26 | 0.6 | 0.68 | +18% |
| Theft from the person | 10 | 0.2 | 0.13 | -52% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bexhill-on-Sea
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 1,326 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 33.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bexhill-on-Sea
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 855 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 21.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bexhill-on-Sea
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 521 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bexhill-on-Sea
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 323 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bexhill-on-Sea
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 315 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bexhill-on-Sea
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 194 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bexhill-on-Sea
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bexhill-on-Sea
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bexhill-on-Sea
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bexhill-on-Sea
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 63 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 down 18% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bexhill-on-Sea
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bexhill-on-Sea
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bexhill-on-Sea
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bexhill-on-Sea
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 52% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Bexhill-on-Sea, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bexhill-on-Sea.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bexhill-on-Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings | 13,034 | 142.9 | +66% |
| Eastbourne | 14,193 | 142.0 | +65% |
| Hailsham | 1,814 | 83.9 | -2% |
| Polegate | 589 | 62.4 | -27% |
| Lower Willingdon | 386 | 47.8 | -44% |
| Heathfield (Wealden) | 365 | 44.0 | -49% |
| Hawkhurst | 290 | 55.7 | -35% |
| Seaford | 1,143 | 47.8 | -44% |
9 areas within Bexhill-on-Sea, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bexhill Sackville had the highest rate (152.7 per 1,000) and Bexhill Collington the lowest (38.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bexhill Sackville | Neighbourhood | 4,774 | 729 | 152.7 |
| Bexhill Central | Neighbourhood | 6,160 | 873 | 141.7 |
| Bexhill Sidley | Neighbourhood | 6,289 | 762 | 121.2 |
| Bexhill St Stephens | Neighbourhood | 4,683 | 387 | 82.6 |
| Bexhill Pebsham & St Michaels | Neighbourhood | 5,338 | 327 | 61.3 |
| Bexhill Old Town & Worsham | Neighbourhood | 4,724 | 268 | 56.7 |
| Bexhill Kewhurst | Neighbourhood | 4,812 | 223 | 46.3 |
| Bexhill St Marks | Neighbourhood | 5,293 | 240 | 45.3 |
| Bexhill Collington | Neighbourhood | 4,133 | 158 | 38.2 |
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 Bexhill-on-Sea over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 232 |
| On or near Parking Area | 196 |
| On or near Sea Road | 164 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 132 |
| On or near Brett Drive | 79 |
| On or near Gleneagles Close | 73 |
| On or near Sackville Road | 68 |
| On or near Dorset Road | 55 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 55 |
| On or near Elm Close | 49 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bexhill-on-Sea 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 | 1,389 | 35.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,025 | 25.8% |
| Not recorded | 855 | 21.6% |
| Under investigation | 267 | 6.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 134 | 3.4% |
| Local resolution | 95 | 2.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 81 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 53 | 1.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 17 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 14 | 0.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.3% |
Bexhill-on-Sea has an estimated population of 46,206. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bexhill-on-Sea sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bexhill-on-Sea |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 52.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 34.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.6% |
| Social rented homes | 9.2% |
| Private rented homes | 19.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 7.2% |
Is Bexhill-on-Sea a safe place to live?
Bexhill-on-Sea recorded 85.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Bexhill-on-Sea?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,326 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (855).
Is crime in Bexhill-on-Sea going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bexhill-on-Sea was down 6% on the year before: 3,967 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 4,241 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bexhill-on-Sea?
Bexhill-on-Sea 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 Bexhill-on-Sea. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.