Rural Brighton and Hove Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In February 2026, Rural Brighton and Hove recorded a crime rate of 9.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 42.2% above the UK average of 6.4. This figure underscores a persistent challenge for the area, which, despite its rural designation, experiences crime rates more in line with urban centres. The breakdown of incidents reveals a stark imbalance between property and violent crime: while property crimes numbered 10, violent crimes totaled 12, accounting for 44.4% of all reported offences. This dominance of violent crime—particularly violence and sexual offences, which were 77% above the UK average—suggests a shift in criminal activity patterns that may be influenced by the season. February, as a winter month, typically sees reduced outdoor activity, which could concentrate incidents in indoor spaces or areas with higher foot traffic, such as local amenities or transport hubs. The high rate of anti-social behaviour (18.5% of total crimes) further complicates the picture, indicating a possible link to social dynamics within the built-up rural district. The area’s status as a built-up zone within a larger coastal city may contribute to this pattern, as proximity to urban influences could drive both property and violent crime rates higher than would be expected in a purely rural setting. However, the absence of a significant seasonal dip in crime—unlike some areas that see reductions in winter—suggests that local factors, such as community cohesion or policing strategies, may play a role in maintaining crime levels. The elevated burglary rate, 700% above the UK average, points to vulnerabilities in property security, linked to the area’s rural isolation and limited surveillance infrastructure. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that address both the immediate concerns of residents and the underlying structural factors contributing to the area’s crime profile.

February 2026 saw a sharp rise in anti-social behaviour, surging 400% from one to five incidents—a jump that likely reflects seasonal shifts or heightened tensions in the built-up rural area. Burglary also increased by 200%, with six reported cases, significantly outpacing the UK average by 700%. This spike in property crime contrasts with a 50% drop in other theft, which fell to one incident from two in January. The dominance of violent crimes—12 in total, 44.4% of all incidents—was 77% above the UK average, a figure that may partly explain the area’s elevated overall rate. The imbalance between property and violent crime suggests a shift in criminal activity patterns, possibly linked to the winter season’s low outdoor activity and the area’s proximity to Brighton’s urban amenities. Residents may find the 77% gap in violent crime rates particularly concerning, given the area’s rural classification and the typically lower prevalence of such crimes in similar regions.

The crime rate in Rural Brighton and Hove rose by 8.1% from 8.4 to 9.1 per 1,000 residents in February 2026, marking a continued upward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day, a figure that, while localised, reflects the concentrated nature of incidents in this built-up rural district. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 110 residents, a ratio that, when scaled to the population of 2,962, underscores the relatively high frequency of incidents compared to broader UK averages. This monthly exposure rate is particularly notable given the area’s classification as a rural built-up zone, where crime concentrations can differ markedly from sprawling urban or purely rural regions. The population-scaled perspective reveals that residents face a higher likelihood of encountering crime than the UK average, though localised factors—such as proximity to Brighton’s urban core—may contribute to this disparity. The absence of a UK-wide daily crime comparison means this local metric remains uncontextualised at the national level, but it highlights the need for targeted local analysis.