Eastbourne Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Eastbourne's February 2026 crime rate of 10.6 per 1,000 residents places it 65.6% above the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, highlighting a stark contrast with national trends. The balance between property and violent crime reveals a nuanced picture: property crimes (384 incidents) slightly outnumbered violent crimes (319 incidents). This suggests a combination of local factors, such as Eastbourne's status as a coastal resort with seasonal foot traffic and retail hubs that may contribute to shoplifting rates. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 28.8% of all crimes, significantly higher than the UK average of 2.3 per 1,000, potentially linked to the town's nightlife and transient population. Anti-social behaviour, at 22.8% of total crimes, was 164% above the UK average, reflecting the impact of winter months on community dynamics and reduced outdoor activity. The seasonal context of February—a pre-spring lull with low outdoor engagement—may have limited opportunities for certain crimes but amplified tensions in confined spaces. These patterns underscore the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas, such as retail centres and public spaces, while also acknowledging the broader influence of Eastbourne's coastal character on crime trends.

February 2026 saw notable month-on-month changes in Eastbourne's crime profile, with anti-social behaviour surging by 27.3% (198 to 252 incidents) and drugs-related crimes rising by 21.1% (38 to 46). These increases, coupled with a 15.6% rise in public order offences (64 to 74), point to a shift in crime mix that may reflect seasonal pressures or localized issues. Conversely, possession of weapons fell by 31.3% (16 to 11), and bicycle theft dropped by 28.6% (7 to 5), suggesting some areas of improvement. The dominance of property crimes over violent crimes in this month is striking: shoplifting (15.8% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (22.8%) far outpaced violent crime categories, though the latter still exceeded UK averages. For instance, violence and sexual offences were 34% above the UK average, while shoplifting was 193% above, both figures underscoring the town's vulnerability to specific crime drivers. Residents may find the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour particularly concerning, as it represents the largest single category of crime and is higher than national levels. This trend may warrant closer attention from local authorities, especially in areas with high foot traffic or during periods of low community engagement.

Eastbourne's crime rate remained stable in February 2026 compared to January, with no significant change from the previous month's rate of 10.6 per 1,000. However, this figure is 65.6% above the UK average, a disparity that becomes more pronounced when considering the daily crime context: Eastbourne recorded an average of 40 crimes per day, a localised figure that does not align with national data. Over the course of February, 1 reported crime occurred for roughly every 94 residents, a monthly exposure rate that highlights the frequency of incidents in a population of 104,259. This statistic, while not directly comparable to UK-wide aggregates, offers insight into the lived experience of Eastbourne's residents. The town's population size and density may amplify the visibility of certain crimes, such as anti-social behaviour and shoplifting, which are high. When scaled to the local context, the 1-in-94 figure suggests that crime is not an isolated issue but a recurring challenge that affects a significant portion of the community. This comparison underscores the need for tailored strategies that address both the absolute numbers and the relative severity of Eastbourne's crime profile compared to the UK as a whole.