Crime by Postcode
Brighton and HoveCouncil area

Crime in Brighton and Hove

Recorded crime in Brighton and Hove is 1.1 times the England and Wales average. It is about the same as 5 years ago. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.

283,870 residents in 165 neighbourhoods. 2% live in busy town or city centres.

Safety
3/10Above average crime
Living
7.9/10Good
5-year change
0%about the same

Crime over 5 years

About the same as 5 years ago Recorded crimes in Brighton and Hove, anti-social behaviour left out.

Sep 2021 – Aug 2022: 28,017 crimesSep 2021 – Aug 202228,017Sep 2022 – Aug 2023: 28,793 crimesSep 2022 – Aug 202328,793Sep 2023 – Aug 2024: 29,210 crimesSep 2023 – Aug 202429,210Sep 2024 – Aug 2025: 29,738 crimesSep 2024 – Aug 202529,738Sep 2025 – Aug 2026: 28,115 crimesSep 2025 – Aug 202628,115

What is recorded

Crime severity: 1.1× the England and Wales average. 97 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

  • Violence and sexual offences: 61% of the harm here
  • Burglary: 11% of the harm here
  • Robbery: 8% of the harm here

"Violence and sexual offences" is 61% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.

Anti-social behaviour: 27 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.

Crime by type

Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.

TypePer 1,000 a year
Robbery1.3
Burglary4.1
Violence and sexual offences35.0
Drugs3.8
Possession of weapons1.4
Other crime2.1
Other theft10.0
Theft from the person1.7
Vehicle crime5.2
Criminal damage and arson9.0
Public order10.4
Bicycle theft3.0
Shoplifting10.1

Towns and cities in Brighton and Hove

Postcode districts in Brighton and Hove

Questions about crime in Brighton and Hove

Is Brighton and Hove a safe place to live?
Brighton and Hove scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Is crime going up or down in Brighton and Hove?
About the same as 5 years ago: 28,017 recorded crimes a year then, 28,115 now.
What is the most common crime in Brighton and Hove?
The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 35 per 1,000 residents a year.