Mid Sussex Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Mid Sussex's crime profile in January 2026 reveals a distinct balance between property and violent crime, with the latter dominating the overall rate. At 4.4 per 1,000 residents, the area's crime rate sits 35.3% below the UK average, a gap that underscores its comparative safety. Violent and sexual offences accounted for 34.8% of all reported crimes, outpacing property crimes (221 incidents) by a narrow margin. This dynamic may be influenced by Mid Sussex's mix of rural and suburban landscapes, where community cohesion and lower population density can reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. Seasonal factors also appear to shape patterns: the post-holiday period likely contributed to reduced retail footfall, which may explain the 35.7% month-on-month drop in shoplifting. However, the persistent presence of violent crime—particularly anti-social behaviour (18.9% of total incidents)—suggests challenges in managing public order that could be linked to local demographics or environmental factors. The area's performance against UK averages further highlights disparities: while violence remains below the national rate (1.5 vs 2.5 per 1,000), burglary is 7% above the UK average, a slight anomaly that may reflect localized vulnerabilities. These figures, when contextualized with Mid Sussex's character as a largely rural district with pockets of suburban development, illustrate a crime picture shaped by both geographic and seasonal influences.

January 2026 saw a 35.7% decline in shoplifting compared to December, likely reflecting reduced retail footfall post-holiday season. Conversely, 'Other crime' surged by 116.7%, with incidents rising from 12 to 26, a shift that may indicate underreported or evolving criminal patterns. Violent crime accounted for 34.8% of total incidents, outpacing property crimes (221 vs 248), a balance that contrasts with the UK average where violent crimes typically constitute a smaller share. Burglary in Mid Sussex was 7% above the UK average, a slight anomaly that may reflect localized factors such as older housing stock or seasonal vulnerabilities in rural properties. Residents may find the 100% drop in bicycle theft (from 7 to 3) and robbery (from 6 to 3) particularly reassuring, though these figures remain below the UK averages for their categories.

Mid Sussex's crime rate in January 2026 remained stable compared to December 2025, with a 1.6% decrease from 4.5 to 4.4 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no significant seasonal spikes or dips in overall criminal activity during the transition from the holiday season to the new year. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 23 crimes per day, a figure that, while specific to Mid Sussex, provides a tangible measure of local activity. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 227 residents over the course of the month, a rate that highlights the relative safety of the district compared to the UK average. The population context further reinforces this, as the lower crime rate may be attributed to Mid Sussex's mix of rural and suburban characteristics, which often correlate with reduced opportunities for certain types of crime, particularly those linked to high-density urban environments.