Crime in Haywards Heath: statistics, rates and trends

2,229 crimes were recorded in Haywards Heath in the 12 months to July 2026, 54.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 745 reports (33% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Haywards Heath has the 1,084th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Haywards Heath was highest in the year to July 2024 (2,307 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (1,899). Over the whole period it rose 13%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Haywards Heath 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 drugs (+68%) and burglary (+36%). The largest falls were in other crime (-27%) and shoplifting (-22%).

Violence and sexual offences in Haywards Heath

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Haywards Heath recorded 745 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 33.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Haywards Heath

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Haywards Heath recorded 549 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 24.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Haywards Heath

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Haywards Heath recorded 208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Haywards Heath

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Haywards Heath recorded 161 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Haywards Heath

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Haywards Heath recorded 140 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Haywards Heath

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Haywards Heath recorded 106 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Haywards Heath

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Haywards Heath recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Haywards Heath

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Haywards Heath recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Haywards Heath

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Haywards Heath recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 68% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Haywards Heath

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Haywards Heath recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Haywards Heath

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Haywards Heath recorded 22 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 19% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Haywards Heath

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Haywards Heath recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Haywards Heath

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Haywards Heath recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Haywards Heath

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Haywards Heath recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Haywards Heath, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Haywards Heath.

7 areas within Haywards Heath, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Haywards Heath Bentswood & Heath had the highest rate (83.0 per 1,000) and Lindfield Rural & High Weald the lowest (29.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Haywards Heath over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Haywards Heath 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.

Haywards Heath has an estimated population of 41,292. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Haywards Heath sits in decile 8.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Haywards Heath. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.