Nearly 700 fewer burglaries were recorded in Sussex last year then the year before – a drop of 13 per cent.
But fewer than one in ten were solved – in line with the national average but just over the rate of 14 years ago.
Assistant Chief Constable Rosie Ross said that Sussex Police recorded 681 fewer burglaries from the start of April 2025 to the end of March this year compared with the year before – a drop from 5,342 to 4,661 across the county.
ACC Ross spoke about the decrease during a discussion about burglaries at this month’s “performance and accountability meeting” with Sussex police and crime commissioner Katy Bourne.
She said: “We need not take our eye off the fact that burglary remains a priority for us and the impact burglary has on victims when someone enters your home and steals your belongings.”
Sussex has fewer burglaries than average compared with other forces – at 2.55 per 1,000 people. The national figure is 3.55 per 1,000. Home burglaries are 1.55 per 1,000 population.
Out of 43 police forces nationally, Sussex has the 13th lowest risk of burglary.
ACC Ross said that the force had a continuing operation, known as Op Secure, focused crime prevention and strengthening investigations.
Officers focused on target areas and known offenders and aimed to prevent further offences using the neighbourhood policing teams.
Mrs Bourne said: “I know from previous correspondence the issue that is a bugbear with the public is police not attending a home burglary.
“I’ve had reassurances from previous chiefs and our current one that this is not the case. Sussex Police will attend home burglaries. Is this approach being maintained? If so, how are you doing that?”
ACC Ross said that a burglary was treated as active until officers had attended and last year 9 per cent of burglaries were solved which was in line with the national average.
Mrs Bourne said that when she was first elected in 2012, the figure was 17 per cent, which she was not happy about then. She asked what the challenges were.
ACC Ross said that a few criminals were committing a high number of offences and the force was adopting an intelligence-led approach to stemming their offending with a focus on “prolific individuals”.
