Steyning Crime Rate

Steyning Crime Statistics

Steyning presents a complex safety profile with an overall crime rate of 72.9 per 1,000 residents for the Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 period. While this is higher than many of its immediate rural neighbours, it remains comfortably below the UK average of 91.6. The town maintains a strong safety score of 87/100, indicating a generally secure living environment. However, crime has seen a notable increase of 18.3% year-over-year, a trend that warrants attention from residents and business owners alike. This rise is heavily influenced by specific crime types in commercial areas. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of these statistics to help you understand the safety trends and patterns within Steyning.

Crime in Steyning

Steyning's crime landscape is uniquely dominated by shoplifting, which accounts for a significant 38.5% of all reported incidents. This is followed by violence and sexual offences at 19.2% and anti-social behaviour at 11.1%. The high prevalence of shoplifting contributes to a property crime rate of 43.0 per 1,000 residents, which is notably higher than the UK average of 32.2.

Beyond retail-related crime, other property offences include criminal damage and arson (8.2%), vehicle crime (3.2%), and burglary (2.6%). For residents, the high shoplifting rate suggests a concentrated issue within the town's commercial areas. However, the property crime rate indicates that homeowners should not be complacent. With burglary and vehicle crime still present, the impact on the community is felt through both the economic loss to businesses and the potential threat to private property and domestic security.

Steyning Crime Trends

Steyning has experienced a significant increase in reported crime, with a year-over-year rise of 18.3%. This upward trend was particularly volatile throughout 2025. The year started with a low rate of 4.9 in January, but spiked dramatically to 12.1 in February and 13.8 in June. These peaks suggest periods of intense retail-related crime or specific seasonal issues.

Following the mid-year high, crime rates saw a notable decline during the autumn and winter months, dropping to 2.3 in September and ending the year at a low of 1.7 in December. While the end-of-year data is encouraging, the overall 18.3% increase indicates that Steyning is experiencing more frequent crime than in previous periods. For residents and local businesses, this highlight the importance of staying vigilant and investing in effective security measures to combat the fluctuating nature of local crime activity.

How To Keep Safe in Steyning

Shoplifting is the most common crime in Steyning, primarily affecting the town's commercial heart. However, for residents, the broader property crime rate remains a key consideration for daily safety.

1. Vigilance for Business Owners: If you run a local business, ensure high-quality surveillance and clear signage are in place to deter opportunistic shoplifting.
2. Secure Residential Boundaries: With property crime being a factor, ensure your home's perimeter is well-defined. Locked gates and clear sightlines help reduce the risk of opportunistic trespass.
3. Vehicle Security at Night: Vehicle crime peaks during the night in Steyning. Always park in well-lit areas or secure garages where possible, and never leave valuables inside.
4. Daytime Home Security: Burglary rates show a peak in the afternoon. Ensure all doors and windows are locked even if you are just out for a short period during the day.
5. Community Awareness: Stay connected with local safety groups. Sharing information about suspicious activity in the neighbourhood can help prevent a series of opportunistic crimes.

Temporal Crime Patterns in Steyning

Crime in Steyning is heavily concentrated during daylight hours, a pattern largely driven by its high shoplifting rate. During the morning, theft-related offences make up 36% of reports, increasing to 39% in the afternoon. These periods align with peak retail activity in the town centre.

As the day transitions into evening, the focus shifts. While theft drops to 15%, 'other' crimes—which include anti-social behaviour and criminal damage—surge to 57%. The night-time period (12am to 6am) presents a different risk profile; vehicle crime peaks during these hours, accounting for 33% of all night-time incidents. Burglary risks are also highest during the afternoon and night, with both periods seeing 19% of the total burglary count. This data suggests that while the town is busiest with retail crime during the day, the risk to private property and vehicles increases significantly once the shops have closed and darkness falls.

Nearby Area Comparison

In comparison to its immediate surroundings, Steyning is the most active area for reported crime. Nearby Bramber (18.1 per 1,000) and Upper Beeding (27.9 per 1,000) have significantly lower crime rates, while Small Dole and Sompting both report 0.0 crimes per 1,000 residents. Steyning's higher rate of 72.9 is largely reflective of its role as a local commercial hub; the presence of more shops and services naturally draws more activity, including retail-related offences. For those looking for the quietest residential experience, the adjacent villages offer lower crime volumes, though Steyning remains a safe and well-regarded urban centre within the Horsham local authority.

Proactive Security for Steyning Residents

Steyning’s property crime rate of 43.0 per 1,000 people is higher than the national average, and with an 18.3% increase in overall crime, the need for robust security is clear. Most traditional security solutions, such as DIY cameras or standard CCTV, are reactive. They record a crime as it happens, which might help with a police report later but does nothing to stop the initial intrusion or theft.

For Steyning homeowners, proactive protection through scOS offers a different approach. By using AI to monitor your property boundaries in real-time, scOS can identify threats before they escalate. The system’s multi-camera intelligence can distinguish between a neighbour and a potential intruder, while DVLA vehicle verification flags suspicious cars instantly. When a threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger deterrents like lighting and audio warnings. This immediate intervention is designed to destroy the element of surprise, forcing criminals to abandon their attempt. In an area where property crime is a significant factor, moving from recording to prevention is the most effective way to secure your home.