Crime on the rise in Burgess Hill

Crime statistics reveal a concerning trend in Burgess Hill creating fears over residents’ safety.

Overall crime rates in Burgess Hill are lower than the national average, however crime statistics have revealed that there has been a steady increase of offences in Burgess Hill over the years.

Burgess Hill has seen a long-term increase in crime, in 2020 1,584 crimes were reported equating to a crime rate of 56.93 per every 1000 people, the crime rate being similar in 2019 and 2018 highlighting this has not just a low crime rate due to the pandemic. In comparison to this, in 2024 the number of crimes reported were 2,110, meaning the crime rate rose to 75.84 which is higher than the West Sussex average of 71.92.

Shoplifting has emerged as a particular concern as Burgess Hill has ranked as the worst medium sized town in West Sussex for shoplifting in early 2024. Burgess hill has a 4.3 times higher rate of shoplifting than the national average. Antisocial behaviour, theft, and robbery are also on the rise, contributing to the town's growing crime problem.

This worrying trend is also contributed to with the statistics on individual crimes increasing with robbery increased by 739%, shoplifting increased by 58%, and burglary increased by 181% over the past three years.

These trends highlight the importance of continued community engagement and proactive policing to address emerging crime patterns and ensure the safety of residents within Burgess Hill.

Bibliography:

Crime Rate (2024) Crime and Safety in Burgess Hill*.*** Available at: Burgess Hill Crime and Safety Statistics | CrimeRate (Accessed: 25 April, 2025)

Sussex Police (2025) Your Area: Mid Sussex. Available at: Mid Sussex | Sussex Police (Accessed: 25 April, 2025)