Crime in Burgess Hill: statistics, rates and trends
2,476 crimes were recorded in Burgess Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Burgess Hill at a glance
- Crime trends in Burgess Hill
- Types of crime in Burgess Hill
- Burgess Hill compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Burgess Hill
- Streets with the most crime in Burgess Hill
- What happened after crimes were reported in Burgess Hill
- Population and deprivation in Burgess Hill
- Questions about crime in Burgess Hill
- About this data
2,476 crimes were recorded in Burgess Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 711 reports (29% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Burgess Hill has the 746th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Burgess Hill | Mid Sussex | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,476 | 9,703 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.1 | 60.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 34,354 | 161,755 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Burgess Hill was highest in the year to July 2024 (2,527 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,892). Over the whole period it rose 31%, 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 | 2,476 | 72.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,354 | 68.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,527 | 73.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,223 | 64.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,913 | 55.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,991 | 58.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,020 | 58.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,050 | 59.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,892 | 55.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 261 |
| June 2026 | 234 |
| May 2026 | 261 |
| April 2026 | 241 |
| March 2026 | 233 |
| February 2026 | 159 |
| January 2026 | 166 |
| December 2025 | 189 |
| November 2025 | 167 |
| October 2025 | 188 |
| September 2025 | 191 |
| August 2025 | 186 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Burgess Hill 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 (+43%) and drugs (+38%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-44%) and bicycle theft (-36%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 711 | 20.7 | 0.60 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 647 | 18.8 | 1.23 | +43% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 255 | 7.4 | 1.09 | +20% |
| Shoplifting | 213 | 6.2 | 0.75 | -1% |
| Public order | 196 | 5.7 | 0.86 | +5% |
| Other theft | 130 | 3.8 | 0.59 | -8% |
| Burglary | 83 | 2.4 | 0.68 | -18% |
| Vehicle crime | 62 | 1.8 | 0.37 | -44% |
| Other crime | 55 | 1.6 | 0.76 | +2% |
| Drugs | 54 | 1.6 | 0.48 | +38% |
| Possession of weapons | 25 | 0.7 | 0.75 | -11% |
| Robbery | 25 | 0.7 | 0.54 | +19% |
| Bicycle theft | 14 | 0.4 | 0.50 | -36% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.2 | 0.10 | -65% |
Violence and sexual offences in Burgess Hill
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Burgess Hill recorded 711 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 28.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Burgess Hill
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Burgess Hill recorded 647 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 26.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Burgess Hill
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Burgess Hill recorded 255 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Burgess Hill
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Burgess Hill recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Burgess Hill
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Burgess Hill recorded 196 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Burgess Hill
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Burgess Hill recorded 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Burgess Hill
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Burgess Hill recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Burgess Hill
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Burgess Hill recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Burgess Hill
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Burgess Hill recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Burgess Hill
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Burgess Hill recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Burgess Hill
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Burgess Hill recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Burgess Hill
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Burgess Hill recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Burgess Hill
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Burgess Hill recorded 14 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 down 36% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Burgess Hill
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Burgess Hill recorded 6 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 65% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Burgess Hill, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Burgess Hill.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Burgess Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint | 922 | 61.8 | -14% |
| Haywards Heath | 2,229 | 54.0 | -25% |
| Henfield | 323 | 54.7 | -24% |
| Lewes | 1,813 | 110.3 | +53% |
| Brighton and Hove | 34,620 | 123.3 | +71% |
| Southwick (Adur) | 954 | 76.5 | +6% |
| Uckfield | 951 | 60.7 | -16% |
| Shoreham-by-Sea | 1,645 | 69.2 | -4% |
6 areas within Burgess Hill, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Burgess Hill Meeds & Hammonds had the highest rate (121.5 per 1,000) and Burgess Hill Franklands the lowest (38.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burgess Hill Meeds & Hammonds | Neighbourhood | 6,715 | 816 | 121.5 |
| Burgess Hill Leylands | Neighbourhood | 5,267 | 417 | 79.2 |
| Burgess Hill St Andrews | Neighbourhood | 7,210 | 502 | 69.6 |
| Burgess Hill Victoria | Neighbourhood | 4,677 | 284 | 60.7 |
| Burgess Hill Dunstall | Neighbourhood | 5,250 | 255 | 48.6 |
| Burgess Hill Franklands | Neighbourhood | 5,235 | 202 | 38.6 |
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 Burgess Hill over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 177 |
| On or near Supermarket | 155 |
| On or near Keymer Parade | 99 |
| On or near Church Road | 71 |
| On or near Fairbridge Way | 60 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 56 |
| On or near Temple Grove | 49 |
| On or near Wolstonbury Way | 47 |
| On or near Freek'S Lane | 43 |
| On or near Triangle Way | 43 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Burgess Hill 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 | 883 | 35.7% |
| Not recorded | 647 | 26.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 577 | 23.3% |
| Under investigation | 190 | 7.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 49 | 2.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 44 | 1.8% |
| Local resolution | 36 | 1.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 24 | 1.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 0.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% |
Burgess Hill has an estimated population of 34,354. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Burgess Hill sits in decile 8.3, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Burgess Hill |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.8% |
| Social rented homes | 10.9% |
| Private rented homes | 13.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.3 |
Is Burgess Hill a safe place to live?
Burgess Hill recorded 72.1 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 Burgess Hill?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 711 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (647).
Is crime in Burgess Hill going up or down?
Recorded crime in Burgess Hill was up 5% on the year before: 2,476 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,354 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Burgess Hill?
Burgess Hill 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 Burgess Hill. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.