Hellingly Crime Rate

Hellingly is a safe urban settlement within the Wealden local authority, offering a secure environment for its 2,458 residents. The area boasts a safety score of 85/100, which is significantly higher than the UK average of 79. With an overall crime rate of 66.7 per 1,000 people, Hellingly is well below the national average of 91.6. Furthermore, the area is experiencing a positive trend in safety, with a 10.9% decrease in total crimes over the last year. This data, covering Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, highlights Hellingly as a secure location in the region, particularly regarding property-related offences, which are much lower than national norms.

In Hellingly, the most frequently reported crime is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for 37.8% of all incidents at a rate of 25.2 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour (30.5%) and criminal damage and arson (8.5%). Together, these three types make up over three-quarters of all police activity in the area.

When focusing on property crime—including burglary, robbery, theft, and vehicle-related offences—Hellingly maintains a relatively low rate of 14.2 per 1,000 people. This is significantly lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.2. Specifically, burglary accounts for only 1.8% of total crime (1.2 per 1,000), and vehicle crime is at 3.7%. For homeowners, this indicates that the risk of serious acquisitive crime is low. The primary property-related concern is 'other theft' and criminal damage, suggesting that opportunistic vandalism and stealing of unsecured items are the main risks, rather than forced residential entry.

Hellingly's crime trend is encouraging, with a 10.9% 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 3.3 in January and reached a peak of 9.4 in December. Other notable months include August (7.7) and July (6.9). Conversely, February saw the lowest activity of the year with a rate of just 1.6 per 1,000. The latter half of the year showed a general increase in activity compared to the first half, but the overall annual total remains lower than the previous year. For residents, this overall decline reinforces Hellingly's reputation as a secure and peaceful community.

How To Keep Safe in Hellingly

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

• Stay aware of your surroundings when walking in the evening, and stick to well-lit routes through the village centre.
• Report any persistent anti-social behaviour to the local Wealden police, as early intervention can prevent these issues from escalating into criminal damage.
• Given that criminal damage is the third most common crime, ensure your property's exterior is well-maintained and clearly visible from the street, as 'defensible space' naturally deters vandals.
• Install motion-sensor lighting around the perimeter of your property to deter the 41% 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 Hellingly follows a distinct temporal pattern, with activity being most significant during the afternoon and evening hours. Morning and afternoon periods are dominated by theft-related offences, which account for 48-54% of all activity. 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, 41% 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.

Hellingly sits in a peaceful part of East Sussex. When compared to the larger town of Hailsham, which has a crime rate of 74.3 per 1,000, Hellingly is notably safer at 66.7. Several nearby hamlets, including Magham Down, Cowbeech Hill, and Lower Dicker, all report a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 people, reflecting their very small, rural populations. Hellingly's slightly higher rate is due to its larger population and more active village centre. For residents in the area, Hellingly offers a secure middle ground between the busier urban environment of Hailsham and the absolute quiet of the surrounding rural hamlets.

With a property crime rate of 14.2 per 1,000, Hellingly is statistically very safe, but the presence of criminal damage 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 Hellingly, 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 ensures your home remains as secure as the local statistics suggest.