Rye Crime Rate

About Rye

Rye, a historic urban settlement with a population of 4,177, presents its crime statistics for residents and visitors. The area's overall crime rate stands at 104.6 crimes per 1,000 people per year. This figure is slightly above the national average of 93.4 per 1,000. Rye achieves a safety score of 75 out of 100, which is slightly below the UK average of 78, suggesting room for improvement in perceived safety. Encouragingly, the town has seen a positive trend in its crime figures, with a decrease of 7.2% year-over-year, indicating an improving safety landscape for the community.

Crime Breakdown in Rye

An examination of crime in Rye highlights specific areas of prevalence. The three most common crime types are Violence and sexual offences, Anti-social behaviour, and Criminal damage and arson. Violence and sexual offences constitute the largest proportion, accounting for 39.4% of all crimes at 41.2 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour follows at 20.1% (21.1 per 1,000), often impacting public spaces. Criminal damage and arson is also a significant concern, making up 11.2% of crimes at 11.7 per 1,000.

When considering property-related crime, which aggregates burglary, theft from person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft, Rye records a rate of 26.3 per 1,000 residents. This is below the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000, suggesting a comparatively lower risk for property. Burglary stands at 3.4 per 1,000, vehicle crime at 2.6 per 1,000, and other theft at 6.0 per 1,000. These figures indicate that while property crime is present, it is below the national benchmark, offering some reassurance for residents and homeowners.

Crime Trends in Rye

Rye has experienced a positive trend in its crime rates, with a 7.2% 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 significant fluctuations. Starting at 10.5 in October 2024, it peaked at 12.9 in March 2025, and saw a low of 5.8 in January 2025. By September 2025, it settled at 7.7. This pattern suggests notable monthly variations, with higher rates observed in spring and autumn. Despite these fluctuations, 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 Rye

Crime patterns in Rye show distinct variations throughout the 24-hour cycle. During the morning (6am-12pm), theft-related offences are most prominent, accounting for 37% of crimes, alongside burglary at 11% and vehicle crime at 8%. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) sees theft at 39% and burglary peaking at 18%. As the evening progresses (6pm-12am), the landscape shifts, with "Other" crimes becoming significantly dominant at 64%, while theft reduces to 14% and burglary is at 15%. Night-time hours (12am-6am) show a notable increase in vehicle crime to 21% and burglary peaking at 20%, 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.

Rye Compared to Nearby Areas

Comparing Rye to its surrounding areas provides valuable context for residents. Playden, Winchelsea Beach, Iden, and Peasmarsh (Rother) are all smaller, more rural settlements. As such, these areas typically exhibit lower overall crime rates and different crime profiles, often focusing on isolated incidents rather than the broader range seen in a more urbanised area like Rye. Rye, with its historic town centre and tourist appeal, naturally experiences a higher volume and broader range of offences, particularly in categories like anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, which are more common in populated areas. While Rye's crime rate is higher than these smaller neighbours, its safety score, while slightly below the UK average, indicates that local authorities are working to address concerns. This comparison helps residents understand the localised variations in safety within the broader Rother district.

Protecting Your Property in Rye

Given Rye's property crime rate of 26.3 per 1,000 residents, prioritising home security is a sensible measure. 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.