Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
BN21 · East Sussex
574
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
BN16 · West Sussex
84
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Rustington has less crime — 84 vs 574 incidents in February 2026.
Eastbourne recorded substantially more crime than Rustington in February 2026 — 574 incidents compared to 84, a 6.8x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Eastbourne sees higher rates of Shoplifting (100), while Rustington has more Other theft (7). Eastbourne sits above the national average for recorded crime while Rustington is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Rustington recorded fewer crimes than Eastbourne — 84 vs 574 incidents. That is 85% fewer crimes. Rustington is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Eastbourne saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Rustington had more Other theft. Overall, Rustington recorded fewer total crimes (84 vs 574).