Haywards Heath Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Haywards Heath, 5.2 crimes were reported in September 2025 — a rate 29.7% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This translates to a daily risk of roughly one crime for every 193 residents over the course of the month. The most common crime type was anti-social behaviour, accounting for 33.3% of all reported incidents (72 cases), followed by violence and sexual offences (31.0%) and public order offences (10.2%). These figures contrast with national trends: anti-social behaviour in the area is 45% higher than the UK average, while violent crime is 38% below the national rate. Seasonal factors may partly explain these patterns, as September marks the start of the academic year and the transition to shorter evenings. The increase in anti-social behaviour could reflect heightened social activity in town centres and schools, while the lower violent crime rate may align with the area’s relatively stable community profile. Property crimes, including burglary and shoplifting, remain significantly below UK averages, though shoplifting rates fell by 50% compared to August, due to increased retail security measures or seasonal shifts in consumer behaviour.

September saw a 67.4% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 43 to 72 incidents — the largest month-on-month jump in the area. This surge, which is 45% above the UK average, may relate to the return of students and the start of the academic year, though no direct causal link can be confirmed. Meanwhile, shoplifting incidents dropped by 50% (from 14 to 7), the most significant decrease of any crime category. This aligns with the UK average for shoplifting (0.6 per 1,000), but the drop may reflect improved retail surveillance or reduced foot traffic during early autumn. Other notable changes included a 700% spike in drug-related offences (1 to 8), a 125% rise in burglaries (4 to 9), and a 44.4% reduction in criminal damage and arson (18 to 10). The latter decrease could indicate effective community policing or seasonal factors reducing vandalism. Violent crime, though remaining 38% below the UK average, saw no significant month-on-month change, suggesting stable patterns in this category.

The crime rate in September 2025 (5.2 per 1,000) marked a 20.2% increase from August’s 4.3 per 1,000 — the first monthly rise since early 2025. This translates to approximately 7 crimes reported per day, or one crime for every 193 residents over the course of the month. While this rate remains well below the UK average, the rise may reflect seasonal dynamics: as evenings grow shorter, public spaces see increased use, potentially amplifying anti-social behaviour and drug-related incidents. The population-scaled perspective shows that Haywards Heath’s crime profile is distinct from the UK average, with violent crime and property crime both significantly lower than national benchmarks. However, the area’s anti-social behaviour rate remains higher, which may suggest a need for targeted interventions in public spaces. The monthly exposure figure (1-in-193 residents) provides a tangible sense of risk for residents, though this is a monthly aggregate and does not account for daily fluctuations. Comparing this to the UK average is not possible due to the lack of national data on daily crime exposure, but the local context offers a clearer picture of how crime impacts daily life in this specific built-up area.