East Dean and Friston Crime Rate

East Dean and Friston is an exceptionally safe urban settlement within the Wealden local authority, offering a high degree of security for its 2,193 residents. The area boasts an impressive safety score of 93/100, which is significantly higher than the UK average of 79. With an overall crime rate of 33.3 per 1,000 people, it is far below the national average of 91.6. Furthermore, the area is experiencing a positive trend in safety, with a 13.1% decrease in total crimes over the last year. This data, covering Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, highlights East Dean and Friston as one of the most secure locations in the region, particularly regarding property-related offences, which remain very low.

In East Dean and Friston, the most significant crime category is anti-social behaviour, which accounts for 30.1% of all reports, with a rate of 10.0 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by violence and sexual offences at 20.6% and vehicle crime at 9.6%. Together, these three types make up the majority of police activity in the area.

When focusing on property crime—including burglary, robbery, theft, and vehicle-related offences—East Dean and Friston maintains a very low rate of 9.1 per 1,000 people. This is less than one-third of the UK average property crime rate of 32.2. Specifically, burglary accounts for 5.5% of total crime (1.8 per 1,000), and vehicle crime is at 9.6%. For homeowners, this indicates that the risk of serious acquisitive crime is very low. However, the 9.6% vehicle crime rate is notably high compared to other categories, with 54% of these incidents occurring at night, suggesting that driveway security is a key priority for residents.

East Dean and Friston's crime trend is very positive, with a 13.1% year-over-year decrease in total reported incidents. This downward trend suggests that the area is becoming even safer over time. Analysis of the monthly trendData for 2025 reveals that the crime rate per 1,000 started at 4.1 in January and reached a peak of 5.5 in June. Other notable months include March and April, both recording 3.7 per 1,000. Conversely, July and December saw the lowest activity of the year with rates of just 1.4 per 1,000. The latter half of the year remained consistently low, with rates between 1.4 and 3.2. For residents, this overall decline in activity reinforces East Dean and Friston's reputation as a highly secure and peaceful community.

How To Keep Safe in East Dean and Friston

The most common crime in East Dean and Friston is anti-social behaviour, followed by violence and sexual offences. To maintain your personal safety and contribute to the community's security, consider these tips:

• Report any persistent anti-social behaviour to the local Wealden police, as early intervention can prevent these issues from escalating.
• Given that vehicle crime is a significant part of local property crime, ensure your vehicle is locked, parked in a well-lit area, and that no valuables are left inside.
• Be mindful of home security during the afternoon, as 31% of the area's few burglaries occur during these hours when residents may be away.
• Install motion-sensor lighting around the perimeter of your property to deter the 54% of vehicle crimes that happen at night.
• For those with outbuildings or garages, ensure they are fitted with robust locks, as these can be secondary targets for opportunistic theft in rural settlements.

Crime in East Dean and Friston follows a distinct temporal pattern, with activity being most significant during the afternoon and night-time hours. Morning and afternoon periods are dominated by theft and burglary-related offences, with 31% of burglaries occurring in the afternoon. This suggests that opportunistic crimes often occur during the day when properties may be unoccupied. The night-time period (12am-6am) is particularly notable for vehicle security; despite low overall volume, 54% of vehicle crimes occur during these hours. This indicates that vehicles are most at risk when the village is quietest, highlighting the need for robust overnight security measures like driveway lighting and alarms.

East Dean and Friston is located in a cluster of safe coastal and rural settlements. When compared to the larger town of Seaford, which has a crime rate of 48.5 per 1,000, East Dean and Friston is notably safer at 33.3. It is also significantly more secure than Lower Willingdon (52.7) and the major hub of Eastbourne, where the crime rate is substantially higher at 132.7. The nearby village of Alfriston reports a similar rate of 36.6. For residents, East Dean and Friston offers an exceptionally peaceful residential environment that is significantly quieter than the busier regional hubs and many neighbouring coastal towns.

With a property crime rate of 9.1 per 1,000, East Dean and Friston is statistically very safe, but the presence of vehicle crime and occasional burglary means security should not be ignored. Traditional security systems, like Ring or Nest, are often reactive; they only provide footage after a crime has occurred. For a quiet area like East Dean and Friston, proactive protection is a better investment. The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to identify and stop threats at the property line. By utilizing multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your home's exterior in real-time, recognizing residents and regular visitors while flagging suspicious behaviour. If a threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger lights or audio alerts, deterring a potential intruder before they even approach your door. This proactive approach is particularly effective against the vehicle crime that makes up 9.6% of local activity.