Lewes Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Lewes’ overall crime rate in December 2025 stood at 4.9 per 1,000 residents, placing it 30% below the UK average of 7.0. This performance underscores the area’s relative safety, a trend that has persisted despite the month’s typical challenges, such as dark evenings and the logistical demands of Christmas shopping. The breakdown of crimes reveals a clear pattern: violence and sexual offences (173 incidents, 34.3% of total) remain the most significant category, followed by anti-social behaviour (93 incidents, 18.4%) and shoplifting (51 incidents, 10.1%). These figures suggest that Lewes continues to grapple with interpersonal conflicts and retail-related crime, though both categories remain significantly below their respective UK averages. The seasonal context of December—marked by reduced daylight, holiday closures, and a surge in festive retail activity—likely influenced these patterns. For instance, shoplifting rates, while lower than the UK average, may have been tempered by the increased presence of security measures in local stores. Similarly, the relatively low levels of public order offences (38 incidents, 7.5%) could reflect a combination of community policing efforts and the natural decline in outdoor activity during colder months. While the overall rate remains encouraging, the sharp rise in bicycle theft (+100%) and robbery (+100%) highlights the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas, particularly during the busy holiday period. These trends, when viewed alongside the broader decline in property crime and violent incidents, paint a nuanced picture of Lewes’ crime profile—one that balances persistent challenges with measurable improvements in key areas.

December 2025 marked a sharp decline in vehicle crime, which fell by 38.5% compared to November, with incidents dropping from 13 to 8. This decrease may be linked to reduced car usage during the holiday season and increased police patrols in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, possession of weapons fell by two-thirds (-66.7%), a significant drop that could reflect heightened awareness campaigns or seasonal factors such as fewer public gatherings. However, not all trends were downward: robbery and bicycle theft both doubled, with robbery increasing by 100% (from 1 to 2 incidents) and bicycle theft rising from 2 to 4. These increases may be connected to the festive shopping season, which often sees more cyclists navigating crowded streets. Violence and sexual offences, which made up 34.3% of all crimes, remained 34% below the UK average, highlighting a consistent strength in Lewes’ approach to tackling violent crime.

Lewes’ crime rate in December 2025 fell by 8.9% compared to November 2025, dropping from 5.4 to 4.9 per 1,000 residents. This continued decline aligns with broader seasonal trends, as December typically sees reduced foot traffic in retail areas and fewer social gatherings compared to earlier months. On a daily basis, 16 crimes were reported across the 31 days of December, a figure that, while consistent with previous months, reflects the area’s generally low crime profile. When scaled to the population of 102,363, this translates to one reported crime for every 203 residents over the course of the month—a rate significantly lower than the UK average. The reduction in vehicle crime (-38.5%) and possession of weapons (-66.7%) suggests potential success in targeted policing efforts, though these changes must be viewed alongside the overall seasonal context of fewer public events and holiday-related closures.