Ashurst Wood Crime Rate

Ashurst Wood is a secure residential village with a high safety score of 88/100. Its overall crime rate is 49.4 per 1,000 residents, which is considerably lower than the UK average of 91.6. However, the area has seen a significant increase in reported incidents, with a 56.1% rise year-over-year. Despite this upward trend, Ashurst Wood remains an exceptionally safe environment for its population of 1,296, particularly regarding property crime, which is only a fraction of the national average. Understanding the local distribution of crime types and their timing is key to maintaining the village's secure character. This report provides a detailed breakdown of crime categories, monthly trends, and time-based patterns.

In Ashurst Wood, violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crime, accounting for 35.9% of all incidents, at a rate of 17.8 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common category at 28.1%, followed by public order offences at 17.2%.

Property crime in the village is remarkably low, with a combined rate of only 5.4 per 1,000 residents. This category includes 'other theft' (4.7%), burglary (3.1%), and criminal damage (3.1%). Notably, there were no reported vehicle crimes or bicycle thefts in the latest data period. For residents and homeowners, this indicates an exceptionally secure environment where the risk of serious property loss is minimal. The primary concerns are social disturbances and interpersonal offences rather than targeted theft or burglary. However, the 3.1% burglary rate suggests that while rare, residential security should not be entirely overlooked. The high percentage of public order and anti-social behaviour incidents suggests that community-level disruption is the most likely issue residents will encounter.

Ashurst Wood has experienced a significant 56.1% increase in total crime over the last year. Monthly data from 2025 shows a fluctuating but generally upward trend in activity. The year began with a very low rate of 0.8 in January, but this quickly rose to peaks of 7.7 in June and a significant high of 8.5 in September.

Other active months included July (6.2) and November (5.4). The year ended with a lower rate of 1.5 in December. This overall upward trend, while starting from a very low base, suggests that the village is seeing more frequent criminal activity than in previous years. For residents, this means that while the area remains very safe compared to national averages, there is a need for increased vigilance and a more proactive approach to security. The significant summer and autumn peaks indicate that crime in Ashurst Wood occurs in clusters rather than at a constant rate throughout the year.

How To Keep Safe in Ashurst Wood

The most common crime in Ashurst Wood is violence and sexual offences, though the actual volume of incidents is low. Maintaining the village's high safety standards involves personal awareness and effective property security.

1. Focus on Night-time Security: Burglary accounts for 49% of incidents between 12am and 6am. Ensure all doors and windows are fully locked and consider using a professional alarm system.
2. Daytime Vigilance: Theft is most common during the morning and afternoon. Ensure that outbuildings and vehicles are locked even when you are at home during the day.
3. Utilise Motion Lighting: Install motion-activated lighting around your home to deter anti-social behaviour and opportunistic crime, especially during the evening and night.
4. Engage with the Community: Join local neighbourhood watch or social media groups to stay informed about any rare instances of suspicious activity in the village.
5. Report All Incidents: With a 56.1% increase in crime, reporting every incident helps local authorities allocate resources effectively and maintain the village's safety score.

Crime timing in Ashurst Wood shows a distinct shift in the type of risk throughout the day. During the morning (6am to 12pm) and afternoon (12pm to 6pm), theft is the dominant concern, accounting for 60% and 57% of all reported incidents respectively. This indicates that daytime crime is primarily opportunistic and occurs while the village is active or residents are away.

As darkness falls, the nature of crime changes significantly. In the evening (6pm to 12am), 'other' crime types, including anti-social behaviour, become more frequent (39%), and burglary rises to 33%. The night-time period (12am to 6am) sees the most dramatic shift, with burglary accounting for a significant 49% of all incidents. Notably, there were no reported vehicle crimes during any time period. These patterns suggest that while daytime is the window for theft, the late-night hours present the greatest risk to residential security. Residents should focus their security efforts on these high-risk night-time windows to effectively mitigate the most common threats.

In the local regional context, Ashurst Wood is a very safe option. It is significantly more secure than nearby Forest Row, which has a much higher crime rate of 117.5 per 1,000, and is also safer than the larger town of East Grinstead at 57.6. It is slightly less safe than Dormans Park (39.1) and Sharpthorne, which reports zero crimes. For those looking for a safe, village atmosphere in the Mid Sussex area, Ashurst Wood offers a safety profile that compares very favourably to its larger neighbours, providing a secure and stable environment for its residents.

With an exceptionally low property crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents, Ashurst Wood is one of the safest villages in the region. However, the 56.1% increase in overall crime suggests that residents should remain vigilant. Traditional security systems like Ring or Nest are reactive, often only alerting you after a crime has been committed. For homeowners in Ashurst Wood, where burglary accounts for 49% of night-time incidents, a proactive approach is much more effective. scOS (Security Operating System) uses AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property's boundaries 24/7. It identifies potential threats in real-time and can trigger autonomous responses, such as activating high-intensity lighting or voice alerts, before an intruder even reaches your home. In a village where crime is rare but increasing, scOS's ability to deter criminals before they act provides superior protection. By choosing proactive prevention over simple recording, you ensure your home remains as safe as the statistics suggest it should be.