Rural Reigate and Banstead Crime Rate

Rural Reigate and Banstead is a peaceful area with a safety score of 65/100, which is slightly below the UK average of 79. The area's overall crime rate is 130.5 per 1,000 people, higher than the national average of 91.6. Data from January 2025 to December 2025 shows that crime is increasing, with an 8.7% year-over-year change. While the area offers a quiet rural lifestyle, it experiences a higher volume of reported incidents per head of population than some of its urban neighbours. For its 4,099 residents, Rural Reigate and Banstead provides a unique living environment, though the higher-than-average crime rate and increasing trend suggest that maintaining good personal and property security is an important consideration.

Rural Reigate and Banstead's crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 53.1% of all reported incidents (284 cases). This is followed by criminal damage and arson at 10.8% and public order offences at 10.3%. The high percentage of violence and sexual offences is a significant factor in the local crime environment, often occurring in more isolated areas.

Property crime in Rural Reigate and Banstead is a notable concern, with a combined rate of 29.3 per 1,000 residents. This includes vehicle crime (5.6 per 1,000), other theft (5.1 per 1,000), and shoplifting (1.7 per 1,000). Vehicle crime is particularly prominent, accounting for over 4% of total crime. For homeowners, the 29.3 per 1,000 property crime rate indicates that opportunistic theft and damage are frequent risks. The 14.2 per 1,000 rate for criminal damage and arson also highlights the importance of securing external property and vehicles. While the overall property crime rate is below the UK average of 32.2, it is a key driver of local crime, making robust home and vehicle security a priority for residents in this rural area. Burglary is very low, accounting for only 0.8% of total crime.

Rural Reigate and Banstead's crime trend is currently increasing, showing an 8.7% change year-over-year. This indicates a shift in the area's safety environment that residents should be aware of. Monthly data from 2025 shows that the crime rate per 1,000 people fluctuated throughout the year, with some notable peaks.

The year started with lower rates in January (9.0) and February (7.8), before rising through the spring. March and April saw rates of 12.2, and October recorded the highest monthly rate at 13.7. The year ended with a rate of 12.4 in December. This overall upward trajectory suggests that while the area is still a peaceful rural location, there has been a rise in reported activity compared to the previous year. For residents, this underscores the importance of continued community vigilance and maintaining effective property security to manage this increasing trend.

How To Keep Safe in Rural Reigate and Banstead

The most common crime in Rural Reigate and Banstead is violence and sexual offences. To maintain your personal safety and protect your property in this rural environment, consider these practical steps.

1. When walking through more isolated rural areas late at night, stay in well-lit areas where possible and be aware of your surroundings.
2. Given that vehicle crime accounts for a high 42% of night-time incidents, ensure your car is parked in a secure garage or a well-lit driveway, and never leave any valuables inside.
3. Be aware of your surroundings in local public spaces; criminal damage and anti-social behaviour are notable contributors to the local crime rate.
4. Join a local neighbourhood watch scheme; these are very effective in rural areas for sharing information and building a stronger community safety network.
5. Ensure your home and any outbuildings are well-secured; the 14.2 per 1,000 rate for criminal damage and arson highlights the importance of visible and robust property protection.

Crime in Rural Reigate and Banstead follows a distinct cycle. The morning and afternoon hours are heavily weighted towards theft-related offences (36% and 44% respectively), which coincide with typical daytime activity in the area. This suggests that much of the daytime crime is opportunistic and street-focused.

As evening falls, the crime profile shifts significantly. While theft decreases, the proportion of vehicle-related crime rises sharply. Night-time (12am - 6am) is particularly notable for vehicle crime, which accounts for a substantial 42% of reports during these hours. Burglary risk is very low but remains present throughout the day and night. These patterns highlight that while the area is peaceful during the day, the primary risk to private property—especially vehicles—occurs under the cover of darkness when properties are more isolated and vulnerable. The high afternoon theft rate is also a key characteristic of the local safety environment.

In the local context, Rural Reigate and Banstead has a more active crime profile than many of the surrounding urban settlements. Its crime rate of 130.5 per 1,000 is higher than neighbouring Redhill and Reigate. This can sometimes be a characteristic of rural areas where incident volumes are spread across a smaller population base. While it offers a different lifestyle to the district's towns, its safety score and crime rate suggest that residents should be as vigilant as those in busier urban areas. For those seeking a rural environment, it remains a stable choice, though it is one of the more active parts of the Reigate and Banstead district.

Rural Reigate and Banstead's property crime rate of 29.3 per 1,000 indicates that opportunistic theft—especially vehicle crime and criminal damage—is a significant reality for residents. In more isolated rural properties, traditional security measures like basic CCTV or standard alarm systems are common. However, these systems are fundamentally reactive; they record a crime as it happens or alert you after an intruder has already entered. In an area where police response times may be longer due to geography, reactive recording is often too late to prevent loss.

A proactive AI security system like scOS offers a superior alternative. By monitoring the perimeter of your property using intelligent AI, scOS can detect a threat before a break-in or vehicle theft occurs. It can differentiate between a regular visitor and someone suspiciously loitering near your home or outbuildings. When a threat is identified, scOS can autonomously trigger deterrents—such as lights or audio warnings—to stop the intruder in their tracks. For Rural Reigate and Banstead residents, this shift from recording to prevention is the most effective way to safeguard their homes and vehicles, ensuring that their property remains a hard target for opportunistic crime.