Bexhill-on-Sea Crime Rate

About Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill-on-Sea, a coastal town with a population of 44,697, presents its crime statistics for residents and visitors. The area's overall crime rate stands at 91.2 crimes per 1,000 people per year. This figure is slightly below the national average of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating a comparatively safer environment. Bexhill-on-Sea also achieves a safety score of 80 out of 100, surpassing the UK average of 78. Furthermore, the town has seen a positive trend in its crime figures, with a notable decrease of 6.8% year-over-year, suggesting an improving safety landscape for the community.

Crime Breakdown in Bexhill-on-Sea

An examination of crime in Bexhill-on-Sea highlights specific areas of prevalence. The three most common crime types are Violence and sexual offences, Anti-social behaviour, and Shoplifting. Violence and sexual offences constitute the largest proportion, accounting for 33.1% of all crimes at 30.2 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour follows at 17.1% (15.6 per 1,000), often impacting public spaces. Shoplifting is also a significant concern, making up 16.5% of crimes at 15.0 per 1,000, indicative of commercial activity in the town.

When considering property-related crime, which aggregates burglary, theft from person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft, Bexhill-on-Sea records a rate of 34.0 per 1,000 residents. This is marginally above the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000, suggesting a need for vigilance in protecting property. Burglary stands at 1.6 per 1,000, vehicle crime at 2.5 per 1,000, and other theft at 4.4 per 1,000. These figures indicate that residents and homeowners should prioritise security measures to safeguard their homes and vehicles.

Crime Trends in Bexhill-on-Sea

Bexhill-on-Sea has experienced a positive trend in its crime rates, with a 6.8% decrease year-over-year. This downward shift suggests an improving safety situation within the town. Analysing the monthly trend data, the crime rate per 1,000 residents showed fluctuations throughout the year. Starting at 8.4 in October 2024, it dipped to 6.0 in November, then gradually rose to a peak of 9.3 in July 2025, before settling at 7.5 in September 2025. This pattern suggests that crime rates tend to be higher during the summer months, which is a common seasonal trend. Despite these monthly variations, the overall year-on-year decrease is a reassuring sign for residents, indicating a general improvement in local safety, though vigilance during peak periods remains advisable.

Crime Time Patterns in Bexhill-on-Sea

Crime patterns in Bexhill-on-Sea show distinct variations throughout the 24-hour cycle. During the morning (6am-12pm), theft-related offences are most prominent, accounting for 38% of crimes, alongside vehicle crime at 11%. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) sees a similar trend, with theft peaking at 42% and burglary at 10%. As the evening progresses (6pm-12am), the landscape shifts, with "Other" crimes becoming significantly dominant at 67%, while theft reduces to 15% and vehicle crime to 10%. Night-time hours (12am-6am) show a notable increase in vehicle crime to 30% and burglary to 11%, indicating these are vulnerable periods for property-related offences when premises are often unattended. Overall, theft is a consistent concern during daylight hours, while evenings and nights see a rise in more serious property crimes.

Bexhill-on-Sea Compared to Nearby Areas

Comparing Bexhill-on-Sea to its surrounding areas provides valuable context. Lunsford's Cross, Hooe Common, Ninfield, and Catsfield are all smaller, more rural settlements within Rother. As such, they typically exhibit significantly lower overall crime rates and different crime profiles, often focusing on isolated incidents or specific rural crimes. Bexhill-on-Sea, being a larger urbanised area, naturally experiences a higher volume and broader range of offences, particularly in categories like shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, which are more common in populated commercial centres. While Bexhill-on-Sea's crime rate is higher than these smaller neighbours, its safety score remains strong, indicating that while crime exists, it is managed effectively compared to the national picture. This comparison helps residents understand the localised variations in safety within the broader Rother district.

Protecting Your Property in Bexhill-on-Sea

Given Bexhill-on-Sea's property crime rate of 34.0 per 1,000 residents, prioritising home security is essential. Traditional CCTV cameras primarily record incidents, providing footage after a burglary has occurred. For genuine protection, a proactive, AI-powered security system offers a superior approach, preventing crime before it happens. The right security system makes that 60-second decision easy for potential intruders – they move on.

Consider solutions that actively detect threats at your property boundary, rather than after entry. Advanced systems utilise multi-camera intelligence to monitor all areas simultaneously, learning your routines to differentiate between familiar activity and genuine threats. This proactive intervention, in contrast to basic DIY alerts after an event, can activate lights and speakers to deter intruders in real-time, destroying their element of surprise. Investing in professional-grade equipment signals serious protection, making your property a less attractive target and significantly enhancing your defence against property-related crimes.