Crime in Lower Willingdon: statistics, rates and trends
405 crimes were recorded in Lower Willingdon in the 12 months to August 2026, 50.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Lower Willingdon at a glance
- Crime trends in Lower Willingdon
- Types of crime in Lower Willingdon
- Lower Willingdon compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Lower Willingdon
- Streets with the most crime in Lower Willingdon
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lower Willingdon
- Demographics of Lower Willingdon
- Questions about crime in Lower Willingdon
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (136), anti-social behaviour (101) and criminal damage and arson (44) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,141st of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Lower Willingdon | Wealden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 405 | 9,107 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 50.1 | 54.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +16% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 8,083 | 166,908 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Lower Willingdon of any year here (405 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 37%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 405 | 50.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 350 | 43.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 280 | 34.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 242 | 29.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 263 | 32.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 278 | 34.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 306 | 37.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 342 | 42.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 295 | 36.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 51 |
| July 2026 | 39 |
| June 2026 | 43 |
| May 2026 | 41 |
| April 2026 | 35 |
| March 2026 | 22 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 27 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| November 2025 | 32 |
| October 2025 | 40 |
| September 2025 | 28 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (51% below) and other theft (50% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 22 to 44 and anti-social behaviour rose from 61 to 101, while public order fell from 32 to 27.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 136 | 16.8 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 101 | 12.5 | 15.4 | +66% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 5.4 | 6.7 | +100% |
| Public order | 27 | 3.3 | 6.7 | -16% |
| Other theft | 26 | 3.2 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Other crime | 15 | 1.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 15 | 1.9 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Burglary | 14 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 14 | 1.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Lower Willingdon; the highest is Eastbourne (144.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Heathfield (Wealden) (44.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lower Willingdon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polegate | 570 | 60.3 | +20% |
| Eastbourne | 14,430 | 144.4 | +188% |
| Hailsham | 1,803 | 83.4 | +66% |
| Seaford | 1,141 | 47.7 | -5% |
| Newhaven | 2,049 | 136.5 | +172% |
| Bexhill-on-Sea | 3,992 | 86.4 | +72% |
| Peacehaven | 1,213 | 75.0 | +50% |
| Heathfield (Wealden) | 373 | 44.9 | -10% |
Of the 2 areas within Lower Willingdon, Upper Willingdon had the highest crime rate (61.6 per 1,000) and Lower Willingdon the lowest (37.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Willingdon | Neighbourhood | 3,457 | 213 | 61.6 |
| Lower Willingdon | Neighbourhood | 3,051 | 114 | 37.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 47% of the crime recorded in Lower Willingdon over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Blue Bird Way” (46).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Blue Bird Way | 46 |
| On or near Parking Area | 25 |
| On or near St Davids Close | 23 |
| On or near St Martins Road | 18 |
| On or near Eastbourne Road | 16 |
| On or near Broad Road | 15 |
| On or near Regnum Close | 13 |
| On or near Anderida Road | 12 |
| On or near Park Croft | 12 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 12 |
Of the 304 crimes in Lower Willingdon with a recorded outcome, 43% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 101 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 131 | 43.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 101 | 33.2% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 29 | 9.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 2.3% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 1.6% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Lower Willingdon has an estimated population of 8,083 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (3.1%, against 17.1%), more retired residents (39%, against 22%) and an older population (34%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Lower Willingdon average decile 8.0 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Lower Willingdon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 33.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 48.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 39.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 86.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 3.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Lower Willingdon a safe place to live?
Lower Willingdon recorded 50.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,141st of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Lower Willingdon?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 136 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (101).
Is crime in Lower Willingdon going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lower Willingdon was up 16% on the year before: 405 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 350 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Lower Willingdon?
About 8,083 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 34% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Lower Willingdon?
Lower Willingdon is policed by Sussex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.