Lockdown crime: See how it changed across Brighton and Hove

ANTISOCIAL behaviour reports rose by 300 per cent in one area of Brighton during lockdown.

Analysis of Sussex Police crime figures in April compared with average figures in February and March reveals the stark change in criminal activity in the lockdown period.

Antisocial behaviour reports rocketed after lockdown measures were introduced, especially in the Withdean area which experienced an increase of 309 per cent.

Across Brighton and Hove, there were 1,374 antisocial behaviour reports compared with an average of 605 during the months of February and March in recent years. That is an increase of 127 per cent.

Nearly all other types of crime, including shoplifting, robbery, criminal damage and burglary, fell substantially.

Shoplifting fell by 62 per cent, robbery fell by 55 per cent, criminal damage fell by 64 per cent and burglary 31 per cent.

Chief Superintendent Nick May, divisional commander for Brighton and Hove, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for us all and like everyone, we have had to adapt to new ways of working. This has included initiatives such as video interviews with victims of domestic abuse, engagement opportunities in supermarkets and video-enabled initial court hearings.

“Throughout this public health emergency, we have kept a focus on core policing, preventing, investigating and detecting crime and keeping people safe. We have been able to focus on identified hotspots, using our wider policing powers to proactively prevent, detect and disrupt criminality. “

There were dramatic differences in which areas of Brighton and Hove were reporting crime.

Reported crime in the Regency ward fell by 45 per cent, St Peter’s and North Laine fell by 16 per cent and reports in the Wish ward fell by 12 per cent.

Goldsmid had an increase of 42 per cent, Hangleton and Knoll had an increase of 43 per cent and crime reports in Brunswick and Adelaide rose by 45 per cent.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said: “We saw a reduction in most reported crime types in March and April when the government’s Covid-19 restrictions were put in place, including residential burglary, shoplifting and vehicle crime.

“The force did see an increase in some other crime types, including assaults on emergency workers and reports of antisocial behaviour.

“The latter is largely due to police receiving a high volume of contacts from the public reporting gatherings and breaches of Covid-19 regulations, which were recorded under anti-social behaviour.”

What happened in your area?

We have mapped out crime across Brighton and Hove during lockdown. Find where you live below and click 'crime in this area'.

Brunswick and Adelaide
Click for crime in this area

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