Brighton and Hove Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

December 2025 saw Brighton and Hove record a crime rate of 8.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 21.4% above the UK average of 7.0. This urban coastal district, known for its vibrant nightlife and tourist attractions, experienced a mix of crime patterns shaped by seasonal factors. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 33.3% of all crimes, with a rate of 2.8 per 1,000—9% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour (15.4% of crimes) and shoplifting (14.4%) followed, with the latter’s rate of 1.2 per 1,000 being 111% higher than the UK average. These figures reflect the area’s dense population and commercial activity, which likely contribute to elevated rates of public order and retail-related offences. The seasonal context of December, with its long nights, holiday shopping, and empty homes during the festive period, may have amplified incidents of anti-social behaviour and opportunistic theft. While violent crime remains a significant concern, property crimes like shoplifting dominate the landscape, highlighting the tension between the city’s economic vibrancy and the challenges of managing high footfall in retail areas. The data also shows that burglary and vehicle crime are below the UK average, possibly due to increased security measures in residential areas and reduced vehicle activity during the holiday season.

December 2025 revealed notable shifts in Brighton and Hove’s crime mix. Property crimes, particularly shoplifting, remained significantly above the UK average, with a rate of 1.2 per 1,000 (111% higher) and 14.4% of all reported crimes. This contrasts with violent crime, which accounted for 33.3% of total offences but showed a smaller gap relative to the UK average. Month-on-month, criminal damage and arson increased by 27.3% (143 → 182), potentially linked to seasonal events and holiday-related disturbances. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 27.9% (43 → 31), likely due to reduced driving during the festive period and fewer commuters. Other crime fell by 50.0% (60 → 30), though this may reflect data collection anomalies or temporary shifts in criminal activity. The balance between property and violent crime suggests a combination of factors: while retail and nightlife hubs drive shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, the city’s community-focused policing and public awareness campaigns may have mitigated some violent incidents. Residents should remain vigilant in high-traffic areas, as the shoplifting rate indicates a clear risk to businesses and local commerce.

Brighton and Hove’s crime rate in December 2025 (8.5 per 1,000) represented a 5.3% decline from the previous month’s rate of 9.0, indicating a slight reduction in overall criminal activity. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 117 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents for the city’s 283,870 population. Daily crime counts averaged 78 crimes per day, a local metric that highlights the volume of incidents but cannot be directly compared to national data. While the overall rate remains above the UK average, the month-on-month decrease suggests that targeted interventions or seasonal factors—such as reduced tourism or holiday-related security measures—may have temporarily dampened crime levels. The city’s profile as a major urban centre with a mix of residential, commercial, and tourist spaces means that its crime patterns differ from more rural or industrial areas. However, the UK-wide context reveals that Brighton and Hove’s elevated rates for shoplifting and anti-social behaviour are outliers, while its lower burglary and vehicle crime rates align with broader trends in urban areas with strong community engagement and infrastructure.