Crime in Lancing and Sompting: statistics, rates and trends
1,880 crimes were recorded in Lancing and Sompting in the 12 months to July 2026, 65.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Lancing and Sompting at a glance
- Crime trends in Lancing and Sompting
- Types of crime in Lancing and Sompting
- Lancing and Sompting compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Lancing and Sompting
- Streets with the most crime in Lancing and Sompting
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lancing and Sompting
- Population and deprivation in Lancing and Sompting
- Questions about crime in Lancing and Sompting
- About this data
1,880 crimes were recorded in Lancing and Sompting in the 12 months to July 2026, 65.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 13% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 630 reports (34% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Lancing and Sompting has the 860th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Lancing and Sompting | Adur | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,880 | 4,479 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 65.6 | 69.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -13% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 28,648 | 64,889 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Lancing and Sompting was highest in the year to July 2023 (2,448 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (1,665). Over the whole period it rose 2%, 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 | 1,880 | 65.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,160 | 75.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,176 | 76.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,448 | 85.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,992 | 69.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,983 | 69.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,105 | 73.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,665 | 58.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,843 | 64.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 195 |
| June 2026 | 167 |
| May 2026 | 152 |
| April 2026 | 156 |
| March 2026 | 168 |
| February 2026 | 127 |
| January 2026 | 161 |
| December 2025 | 125 |
| November 2025 | 132 |
| October 2025 | 185 |
| September 2025 | 139 |
| August 2025 | 173 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Lancing and Sompting 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 (+48%) and possession of weapons (+43%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-74%) and drugs (-36%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 630 | 22.0 | 0.64 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 474 | 16.5 | 1.08 | +48% |
| Public order | 143 | 5.0 | 0.75 | -27% |
| Other theft | 133 | 4.6 | 0.73 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 132 | 4.6 | 0.68 | -18% |
| Shoplifting | 120 | 4.2 | 0.51 | -74% |
| Vehicle crime | 60 | 2.1 | 0.43 | +22% |
| Other crime | 57 | 2.0 | 0.94 | -7% |
| Drugs | 39 | 1.4 | 0.42 | -36% |
| Burglary | 30 | 1.0 | 0.30 | -35% |
| Possession of weapons | 30 | 1.0 | 1.08 | +43% |
| Robbery | 21 | 0.7 | 0.54 | +17% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.2 | 0.25 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.2 | 0.10 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Lancing and Sompting
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Lancing and Sompting recorded 630 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 33.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Lancing and Sompting
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Lancing and Sompting recorded 474 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 25.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Lancing and Sompting
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Lancing and Sompting recorded 143 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 27% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Lancing and Sompting
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Lancing and Sompting recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Lancing and Sompting
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Lancing and Sompting recorded 132 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Lancing and Sompting
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Lancing and Sompting recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 74% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Lancing and Sompting
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Lancing and Sompting recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Lancing and Sompting
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Lancing and Sompting recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Lancing and Sompting
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Lancing and Sompting recorded 39 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 down 36% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Lancing and Sompting
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Lancing and Sompting recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Lancing and Sompting
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Lancing and Sompting recorded 30 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 43% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Lancing and Sompting
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Lancing and Sompting recorded 21 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 17% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Lancing and Sompting
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Lancing and Sompting recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Lancing and Sompting
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Lancing and Sompting recorded 5 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Lancing and Sompting, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Lancing and Sompting.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lancing and Sompting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shoreham-by-Sea | 1,645 | 69.2 | +5% |
| Worthing | 11,373 | 99.9 | +52% |
| Southwick (Adur) | 954 | 76.5 | +17% |
| Rustington | 1,980 | 55.9 | -15% |
| Henfield | 323 | 54.7 | -17% |
| Brighton and Hove | 34,620 | 123.3 | +88% |
| Storrington | 309 | 46.6 | -29% |
| Littlehampton | 2,276 | 122.1 | +86% |
6 areas within Lancing and Sompting, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Churchill had the highest rate (84.3 per 1,000) and Cokeham the lowest (46.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Churchill | Neighbourhood | 4,506 | 380 | 84.3 |
| Mash Barn | Neighbourhood | 4,825 | 402 | 83.3 |
| Widewater | Neighbourhood | 5,999 | 398 | 66.3 |
| Peverel | Neighbourhood | 4,310 | 251 | 58.2 |
| Manor | Neighbourhood | 4,503 | 239 | 53.1 |
| Cokeham | Neighbourhood | 4,505 | 210 | 46.6 |
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 Lancing and Sompting over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 177 |
| On or near Parking Area | 73 |
| On or near Lisher Road | 54 |
| On or near North Road | 43 |
| On or near Hillbarn Avenue | 40 |
| On or near Yew Tree Close | 36 |
| On or near West Way | 34 |
| On or near Millfield | 33 |
| On or near Sompting Road | 32 |
| On or near Hamilton Road | 30 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Lancing and Sompting 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 | 613 | 32.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 488 | 26.0% |
| Not recorded | 474 | 25.2% |
| Under investigation | 98 | 5.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 55 | 2.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 50 | 2.7% |
| Local resolution | 35 | 1.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 19 | 1.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 19 | 1.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% |
Lancing and Sompting has an estimated population of 28,648. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Lancing and Sompting sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Lancing and Sompting |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.7% |
| Social rented homes | 11.5% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
Is Lancing and Sompting a safe place to live?
Lancing and Sompting recorded 65.6 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 Lancing and Sompting?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 630 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (474).
Is crime in Lancing and Sompting going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lancing and Sompting was down 13% on the year before: 1,880 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,160 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Lancing and Sompting?
Lancing and Sompting 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 Lancing and Sompting. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.