Crime in Newhaven: statistics, rates and trends
2,049 crimes were recorded in Newhaven in the 12 months to August 2026, 136.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Newhaven at a glance
- Crime trends in Newhaven
- Types of crime in Newhaven
- Newhaven compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Newhaven
- Streets with the most crime in Newhaven
- What happened after crimes were reported in Newhaven
- Demographics of Newhaven
- Questions about crime in Newhaven
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (688), anti-social behaviour (498) and shoplifting (186) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 99th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Newhaven | Lewes | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,049 | 7,500 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 136.5 | 73.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +22% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 15,016 | 102,363 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Newhaven of any year here (2,049 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 28%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,049 | 136.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,674 | 111.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,812 | 120.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,758 | 117.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,510 | 100.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,767 | 117.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,595 | 106.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,817 | 121.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,604 | 106.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 198 |
| July 2026 | 234 |
| June 2026 | 196 |
| May 2026 | 234 |
| April 2026 | 182 |
| March 2026 | 170 |
| February 2026 | 137 |
| January 2026 | 159 |
| December 2025 | 144 |
| November 2025 | 129 |
| October 2025 | 143 |
| September 2025 | 123 |
Compared with England and Wales, Newhaven recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (2.2 times the national rate), criminal damage and arson (71% above the national rate) and other crime (70% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (41% below) and burglary (33% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 287 to 498 and criminal damage and arson rose from 120 to 173, while vehicle crime fell from 63 to 44 and possession of weapons fell from 25 to 20.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 688 | 45.8 | 34.2 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 498 | 33.2 | 15.4 | +74% |
| Shoplifting | 186 | 12.4 | 8.5 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 173 | 11.5 | 6.7 | +44% |
| Public order | 166 | 11.1 | 6.7 | +15% |
| Other theft | 92 | 6.1 | 6.4 | +6% |
| Drugs | 57 | 3.8 | 3.3 | +27% |
| Other crime | 54 | 3.6 | 2.1 | +23% |
| Vehicle crime | 44 | 2.9 | 5.0 | -30% |
| Burglary | 36 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 0% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.3 | 1.0 | -20% |
| Robbery | 17 | 1.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 13 | 0.9 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Newhaven; the highest is Eastbourne (144.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Seaford (47.7).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Newhaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peacehaven | 1,213 | 75.0 | -45% |
| Seaford | 1,141 | 47.7 | -65% |
| Lewes | 1,801 | 109.6 | -20% |
| Lower Willingdon | 405 | 50.1 | -63% |
| Polegate | 570 | 60.3 | -56% |
| Brighton and Hove | 35,044 | 124.8 | -9% |
| Hailsham | 1,803 | 83.4 | -39% |
| Eastbourne | 14,430 | 144.4 | +6% |
Of the 2 areas within Newhaven, Newhaven South had the highest crime rate (172.7 per 1,000) and Newhaven North the lowest (109.5).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newhaven South | Neighbourhood | 7,301 | 1,261 | 172.7 |
| Newhaven North | Neighbourhood | 6,099 | 668 | 109.5 |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Newhaven over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Railway Road” (156).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Railway Road | 156 |
| On or near Supermarket | 143 |
| On or near Parking Area | 91 |
| On or near Hanson Road | 56 |
| On or near Police Station | 54 |
| On or near Tide Mills View | 51 |
| On or near Western Road | 51 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 40 |
| On or near North Lane | 39 |
| On or near Rectory Close | 38 |
Of the 1,551 crimes in Newhaven with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 498 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 636 | 41.0% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 509 | 32.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 163 | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 79 | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 66 | 4.3% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 44 | 2.8% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 0.7% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Newhaven has an estimated population of 15,016 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.6%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (25%, against 34%) and more private renting (25%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Newhaven average decile 3.6 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Newhaven | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 23.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 24.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Newhaven a safe place to live?
Newhaven recorded 136.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 99th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Newhaven?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 688 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (498).
Is crime in Newhaven going up or down?
Recorded crime in Newhaven was up 22% on the year before: 2,049 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,674 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Newhaven?
About 15,016 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Newhaven?
Newhaven 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.