Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile for Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint in May 2024 reveals a distinct balance of crime types that reflects the area’s character as a built-up district within Mid Sussex. Violent crimes, particularly violence and sexual offences, dominate the landscape, accounting for 40.7% of all reported incidents. This contrasts with the UK average, where such offences make up 40% of the total. The area’s crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents is 50% below the UK average of 8.4, suggesting a relatively safe environment despite the prominence of violent crime. Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour follow as the next most common categories, each contributing 11.9% to the total. This mix may be influenced by the area’s mix of residential and retail spaces, which could explain the relatively high proportion of property-related crimes compared to the UK average. The seasonal context of May — with longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising — may contribute to the elevated share of violent incidents. However, the absence of significant spikes in property crimes, such as burglary or vehicle crime, suggests that local factors may be keeping such offences in check. The data also highlights a lower-than-average incidence of anti-social behaviour and public order offences, which could be linked to community cohesion or effective local policing efforts. Overall, the crime mix in May 2024 indicates a community where interpersonal conflicts and minor property crimes are more prevalent than larger-scale criminal activity.

May 2024 saw notable shifts in crime trends for Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint. Vehicle crime, drugs-related offences, and bicycle theft all increased by 100% compared to the previous month, with vehicle crime rising from zero to three incidents. This jump may be linked to seasonal factors, such as more vehicles on the road during the Easter holidays or increased outdoor activity. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 80% to just one incident, a stark contrast to the five reported in April. This decline could reflect the impact of local initiatives or the natural ebb of seasonal events. Other theft and other crime also dropped by 50%, indicating a temporary reduction in opportunistic behaviour. The area’s violent crime rate remains significantly below the UK average — violence and sexual offences are 40% lower than the national figure, while shoplifting and anti-social behaviour are 22% and 66% below UK levels, respectively. These figures suggest that local demographics and community structures may be playing a role in keeping certain crime types at bay. For residents, the increase in vehicle crime is a specific concern, as it highlights a new vulnerability in an area that previously had no recorded incidents of this nature. The data also shows that the area’s crime mix is skewed towards violent and property-related offences, with minimal presence of drug-related crimes compared to the UK average — a discrepancy that may be due to the area’s lower population density or different social dynamics.

The crime rate in Hassocks and Hurstpierpoint for May 2024 (4.2 per 1,000) marks a 14.5% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 4.9 per 1,000, indicating a consistent downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of two crimes per day in May, a figure that, while seemingly low, reflects the area’s overall safety. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 239 residents — a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of crime in a community of 14,095 people. This statistic provides context for residents, showing that the likelihood of encountering crime is minimal compared to larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective further highlights the area’s comparative safety: for every 1,000 residents, only 4.2 crimes are reported, a rate that is nearly half the UK average. This disparity may be attributed to the area’s characteristics as a built-up district within a rural region, where community engagement and lower population density could naturally reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The absence of significant spikes in property crimes, despite the presence of retail spaces, suggests that local factors — such as effective policing or community vigilance — may be contributing to this outcome. While the daily crime count appears modest, the fluctuation in specific categories, such as the 100% increase in vehicle crime, reminds residents that vigilance remains necessary, even in areas with generally low crime rates.