Hastings Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Hastings, a coastal town in East Sussex, recorded a crime rate of 10.7 per 1,000 residents in September 2023 — 33.7% higher than the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This places the area significantly above the national trend, reflecting patterns consistent with its character as a mixed-use coastal community with a notable student population and tourist infrastructure. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 35.4% of all crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (17.9%) and criminal damage and arson (11.0%). These figures align with the seasonal context of September, a time when universities begin freshers' week, increasing foot traffic in town centres and potentially contributing to higher rates of public disorder and violence. The area's proximity to the English Channel also means it attracts seasonal tourism, which may interact with local demographics to shape crime trends. Violent crime rates in Hastings are 39% above the UK average for this category, suggesting a combination of local factors and national patterns. While property crimes accounted for 33.8% of the total, the dominance of violent and anti-social offences highlights the need for targeted community engagement and policing strategies in public spaces. This data must be contextualised within Hastings' specific geography — a town with a mix of residential, commercial, and coastal areas — where the density of social activity may amplify certain types of crime compared to more rural or industrial regions.

September 2023 saw significant shifts in crime patterns in Hastings, with three categories experiencing notable changes. Theft from the person increased by 133.3%, rising from 3 to 7 incidents — a spike that may reflect the influx of new students and tourists during freshers' week. This category's UK average remained stable at 0.1 per 1,000, but Hastings' rate now sits 23% below the national figure, suggesting local interventions may be mitigating this type of crime. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 20.0%, declining from 135 to 108 incidents — a drop consistent with the end of the summer tourist season and reduced outdoor activity. Anti-social behaviour also decreased by 14.6%, from 205 to 175 cases, linked to the return of students to campus settings and reduced evening street activity. Violence and sexual offences, however, saw a 12.6% reduction, falling from 397 to 347 — a decrease that may partly reflect improved policing efforts in high-risk areas. The most striking divergence from the UK average remains in anti-social behaviour, which in Hastings is 42% above the national rate of 1.3 per 1,000. This suggests a need for targeted community programmes in areas with high concentrations of transient populations, such as the town centre and university precincts. Meanwhile, vehicle crime in Hastings is 17% below the UK average, indicating that local traffic management or parking enforcement may be reducing opportunities for such offences.

Hastings' crime rate in September 2023 (10.7 per 1,000) represents a 5.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 11.4 per 1,000 — a slight but notable downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 33 crimes per day over the 30-day period, a figure that contextualises the scale of activity for local residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 93 residents, highlighting the frequency of incidents relative to the population of 91,219. When compared to the UK average, Hastings remains significantly above the national benchmark, with its violent crime rate 39% higher than the UK's 2.7 per 1,000. This discrepancy underscores the need for tailored strategies to address local challenges, particularly in areas with high transient populations such as the town centre and university areas. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the absolute number of crimes may seem manageable, the proportion of incidents per resident is higher than in many other parts of the country. This is particularly evident in anti-social behaviour, which in Hastings is 42% above the UK average, and criminal damage and arson, which are 100% above the national rate. These figures suggest that Hastings' unique mix of coastal tourism, student life, and historic infrastructure creates a distinct crime profile that requires differentiated approaches compared to more urban or rural counterparts.