Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint during May 2023 reveals a distinct pattern of activity compared to the UK average. Violent crimes accounted for 35.7% of all incidents, driven by 25 recorded cases of violence and sexual offences, a rate of 1.8 per 1,000 residents. This is 35.7% below the UK average for this category (2.8 per 1,000), reflecting a consistently lower level of violent crime in this built-up area of Mid Sussex. Anti-social behaviour (14 cases, 1.0 per 1,000) and criminal damage and arson (7 cases, 0.5 per 1,000) followed as the second and third most common crime types, both significantly below UK averages. The area’s overall crime rate of 5.0 per 1,000 residents is 37.5% lower than the UK average of 8.0, illustrating a broader trend of lower crime levels in this part of Sussex. Seasonal factors in May, including bank holidays and longer evenings, likely contributed to the rise in public order offences and anti-social behaviour, which may be linked to increased socialising and outdoor activity. However, property crimes such as shoplifting (0.2 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.1 per 1,000) remained well below UK averages, suggesting that local retail and transportation networks are not major hotspots for these offences. The balance of crime types points to a community where violent and disruptive incidents are more prevalent than property-related crimes, a pattern consistent with the area’s character as a residential and commuter hub with limited industrial or commercial activity.

May 2023 saw sharp month-on-month increases in public order offences, anti-social behaviour, and criminal damage and arson, with public order crimes rising by 200% (from 2 to 6) alone. This shift in the crime mix highlights a notable rise in property-related disruptions compared to the previous month, even as violent crimes remained the largest single category, accounting for 35.7% of total incidents. The area’s violent crime rate of 1.8 per 1,000 (25 offences) is 35.7% below the UK average for this category, suggesting a broader trend of lower violence levels. Conversely, burglary in the area (0.4 per 1,000) is 29% above the UK average (0.3 per 1,000), a small but statistically significant divergence. For residents, the 200% increase in public order offences may indicate heightened activity in local social spaces during May’s longer evenings and bank holidays.

The crime rate in Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint rose by 79.4% from 2.8 to 5.0 per 1,000 residents in May 2023 compared to the previous month. This increase, while notable, still places the area well below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two reported crimes per day in May, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 201 residents, illustrating the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. When scaled to the population of 14,095, the rate remains significantly lower than the UK average, reflecting a broader pattern of lower crime levels in this part of Mid Sussex. This comparison underscores the area’s distinct position within national crime statistics, even as local fluctuations occur.