Crime in Polegate: statistics, rates and trends

589 crimes were recorded in Polegate in the 12 months to July 2026, 62.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 159 reports (27% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Polegate has the 917th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Polegate was highest in the year to July 2025 (723 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (530). Over the whole period it rose 11%, 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 Polegate 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. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting.

The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-52%) and shoplifting (-39%).

Violence and sexual offences in Polegate

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Polegate recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 27.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Polegate

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Polegate recorded 124 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 21.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Polegate

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Polegate recorded 116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 19.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Polegate

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Polegate recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Polegate

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Polegate recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Polegate

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Polegate recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Polegate

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Polegate recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Polegate

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Polegate recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Polegate

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Polegate recorded 13 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 86% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Polegate

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Polegate recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 52% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Polegate

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Polegate recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Polegate

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Polegate recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Polegate

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Polegate recorded 2 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Polegate

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Polegate recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

3 areas within Polegate, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Polegate North had the highest rate (102.3 per 1,000) and Polegate Central the lowest (37.7). 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 Polegate over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Polegate 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.

Polegate has an estimated population of 9,446. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Polegate sits in decile 6.3, close to the middle. 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 Polegate. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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