Crime in Peacehaven: statistics, rates and trends
1,213 crimes were recorded in Peacehaven in the 12 months to August 2026, 75.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Peacehaven at a glance
- Crime trends in Peacehaven
- Types of crime in Peacehaven
- Peacehaven compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Peacehaven
- Streets with the most crime in Peacehaven
- What happened after crimes were reported in Peacehaven
- Demographics of Peacehaven
- Questions about crime in Peacehaven
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (426), anti-social behaviour (317) and public order (94) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 694th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Peacehaven | Lewes | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,213 | 7,500 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 75.0 | 73.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +9% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 16,165 | 102,363 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Peacehaven peaked in the year to August 2020 (1,264 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (1,004). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,213 | 75.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,115 | 69.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,004 | 62.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,096 | 67.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,031 | 63.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,184 | 73.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,264 | 78.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,085 | 67.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,052 | 65.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 124 |
| July 2026 | 129 |
| June 2026 | 118 |
| May 2026 | 95 |
| April 2026 | 88 |
| March 2026 | 102 |
| February 2026 | 83 |
| January 2026 | 89 |
| December 2025 | 78 |
| November 2025 | 102 |
| October 2025 | 82 |
| September 2025 | 123 |
Compared with England and Wales, Peacehaven recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (28% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (66% below) and other theft (53% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 206 to 317, while shoplifting fell from 137 to 80 and other theft fell from 61 to 49.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 426 | 26.4 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 317 | 19.6 | 15.4 | +54% |
| Public order | 94 | 5.8 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 84 | 5.2 | 6.7 | -17% |
| Shoplifting | 80 | 4.9 | 8.5 | -42% |
| Other theft | 49 | 3.0 | 6.4 | -20% |
| Other crime | 40 | 2.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 38 | 2.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 27 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 1.7 | 5.0 | -18% |
| Possession of weapons | 16 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 8 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Peacehaven; the highest is Newhaven (136.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Seaford (47.7).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Peacehaven |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newhaven | 2,049 | 136.5 | +82% |
| Seaford | 1,141 | 47.7 | -36% |
| Lewes | 1,801 | 109.6 | +46% |
| Brighton and Hove | 35,044 | 124.8 | +66% |
| Lower Willingdon | 405 | 50.1 | -33% |
| Southwick (Adur) | 1,001 | 80.2 | +7% |
| Polegate | 570 | 60.3 | -20% |
| Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint | 908 | 60.9 | -19% |
Of the 3 areas within Peacehaven, Peacehaven West had the highest crime rate (93.9 per 1,000) and Peacehaven North the lowest (63.6).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peacehaven West | Neighbourhood | 4,515 | 424 | 93.9 |
| Peacehaven East | Neighbourhood | 6,165 | 440 | 71.4 |
| Peacehaven North | Neighbourhood | 5,485 | 349 | 63.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Peacehaven over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (99).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 99 |
| On or near Supermarket | 63 |
| On or near Bramber Avenue | 50 |
| On or near Lake Drive | 41 |
| On or near Downland Avenue | 34 |
| On or near Trafalgar Close | 31 |
| On or near View Road | 31 |
| On or near Balcombe Road | 29 |
| On or near Meridian Way | 28 |
| On or near Skylark Avenue | 24 |
Of the 896 crimes in Peacehaven with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 317 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 336 | 37.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 312 | 34.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 86 | 9.6% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 42 | 4.7% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 31 | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 30 | 3.3% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 23 | 2.6% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.8% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Peacehaven has an estimated population of 16,165 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%), less social housing (10%, against 17%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Peacehaven average decile 4.6 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Peacehaven | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Peacehaven a safe place to live?
Peacehaven recorded 75.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 694th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Peacehaven?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 426 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (317).
Is crime in Peacehaven going up or down?
Recorded crime in Peacehaven was up 9% on the year before: 1,213 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,115 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Peacehaven?
About 16,165 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Peacehaven?
Peacehaven 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.