Brighton and Hove Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2025, Brighton and Hove recorded a crime rate of 8.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 21.4% above the UK average of 7.0. This figure underscores a persistent challenge for the coastal city, which combines the dynamics of a major tourist destination with the social fabric of a university town. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, contributing 33.3% of all reported crimes, followed closely by anti-social behaviour (15.4%) and shoplifting (14.4%). These patterns align with the area's character: a bustling urban centre with high foot traffic during the festive season, coupled with the transient nature of its student population and the seasonal influx of visitors. The dominance of violent crimes over property crimes in this month’s data is notable, with 806 violent crimes reported compared to 871 property crimes. This near-parity suggests a combination of the city's vibrant nightlife, which may drive incidents of violence, and the retail environment, which sees a spike in shoplifting during the Christmas shopping peak. Seasonal factors such as extended darkness, the presence of empty homes over the holiday period, and the heightened social activity associated with the festive season likely contribute to the elevated crime rate. The UK comparison further highlights Brighton and Hove’s distinctiveness: while the city’s violent crime rate (2.8 per 1,000) is 9% above the national average, its shoplifting rate (1.2 per 1,000) is 111% above, reflecting the pressures of high-traffic retail areas during the holiday season. This data invites a closer examination of how local initiatives and policing strategies might be tailored to address the specific challenges of a coastal urban environment during December.

December 2025 saw notable fluctuations in crime categories, with criminal damage and arson increasing by 27.3% compared to November, a trend consistent with the season’s heightened focus on property-related incidents. The rise in drug-related crimes (11.3% increase) may reflect the increased social activity and potential for illicit trade during the festive period. Conversely, the sharp 50% decline in 'other crime' and the 32.4% reduction in theft from the person suggest possible improvements in community policing or deterrence measures. The balance between property and violent crimes remains strikingly close, with property crimes (871) slightly edging out violent crimes (806), yet the latter’s share of the total (33.3%) remains high compared to the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 for violent offences. This discrepancy may partly explain Brighton and Hove’s overall rate being 21.4% above the UK average, as the city’s violent crime rate is already 9% above national norms. The shoplifting category, at 1.2 per 1,000, is 111% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000, a figure that directly reflects the city’s high-traffic retail areas and the seasonal surge in shopping activity. For residents, this highlights the importance of local retail security measures during peak periods, such as the festive season. The 27.9% drop in vehicle crime, meanwhile, may be linked to fewer cars on the road during the holiday period, though this trend contrasts with the sharp increase in anti-social behaviour (40% above the UK average), which likely stems from the social dynamics of a densely populated urban area during December.

The crime rate in Brighton and Hove for December 2025 (8.5 per 1,000) marked a 5.3% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 9.0, indicating a slight but measurable decline in overall crime. This reduction, however, does not fully mitigate the city’s position as one of the UK’s higher-risk areas, with its crime rate still 21.4% above the national average. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 78 crimes per day in December, a figure that, while local to Brighton and Hove, illustrates the persistent demand on local policing resources. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 117 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the scale of crime relative to the city’s population of 283,870. This figure, though not directly comparable to UK-wide data, provides a tangible sense of the likelihood of encountering crime for individuals living in the area. The city’s population context also reveals a broader picture: with 283,870 residents, the absolute number of crimes (2,420) translates to a relatively high frequency of incidents per capita. This context is critical for residents and policymakers, as it highlights the need for targeted interventions that consider both the city’s unique demographic profile and the seasonal pressures that amplify certain types of crime. The comparison to the previous month further suggests that while there is some short-term fluctuation, the underlying trends—such as the dominance of violent and property crimes—remain deeply entrenched in the city’s crime profile.