Share your views for a safer East Sussex

Results updated 2 Sep 2025

Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete this survey. We received 429 responses. A summary of the results is below. They have informed our business plan which you can find here. We plan to repeat the survey again next year to check whether the same issues remain the most important.

Results summary

We asked people to tell us what community safety issues, and what anti-social behaviour issues were most important to deal with in East Sussex. Respondents could pick their top three from a list of issues. We also asked respondents to tell us why they picked those issues. 

Community safety 

Most important issues

Nearly half the respondents (46%) put drug and alcohol misuse as one of their top three issues. This was followed by road safety (41%) and serious crime including knife crime (37%).

The issues that the least people put as their top three were: radicalisation, extremism and terrorism (9%); criminal and sexual exploitation of adults (7%); and hate crime (7%). 

Respondents experience of their chosen issue

The issue picked most for being something a respondent has been directly affected by (either themselves or someone they know) was hate crime, and fraud or scams.

The issues picked most for being an a problem locally to them was: rough sleeping/homelessness, drug/alcohol misuse, and theft/burglary. 

The issues picked most for being something the respondent was broadly aware of as a problem were radicalisation, extremism, and terrorism, and reducing reoffending. 

Issues broken down by district and borough

Eastbourne: A higher proportion of respondents highlighted rough sleeping/homelessness and drug/alcohol misuse as issues compared to the county averages.

Hastings: A higher proportion of respondents highlighted rough sleeping/homelessness, reducing reoffending, and drug/alcohol misuse as issues compared to the county averages.

Lewes: A higher proportion of respondents identified sexual violence/abuse, and exploitation and recruitment of young people by criminals as issues compared to the county averages.

Rother: A higher proportion of respondents identified serious violent crime including knife crime as an issue, compared to the county average.

Wealden: Responses largely followed the county average, however slightly more respondents identified fraud/scams, and theft/burglary as issues, compared to the county average.

Anti-social behaviour 

Most important issues

Nearly half the respondents (45%) put speeding/antisocial driving as one of their top three issues. This was followed by fly tipping/dumping (37%) and vandalism/criminal damage (31%).

The issues that the least people put as their top three were: noise disturbance (6%), drug-related litter (3%), underage drinking in public (2%). 

Respondents experience of their chosen issue

The majority of issues were chosen because respondents said they were local issues they were aware of. The exception was for nuisance/aggressive neighbours, and noise disturbance, where a higher proportion of respondents said the issue affected them or someone they know. 

Issues broken down by district and borough

Eastbourne: A higher proportion of respondents identified drug dealing in public spaces and drinking in public spaces as issues compared to the county averages.

Hastings: A higher proportion of respondents identified drinking in public spaces as an issue, compared to the county average

Lewes: A higher proportion of respondents identified verbal abuse/intimidation and fly tipping/dumping as issues compared to the county averages.

Rother: A higher proportion of respondents identified fly tipping/dumping as an issue compared to the county average.

Wealden: Responses largely matched the county averages. However slightly more respondents identified parking illegally/in anti