Crime in Essex: statistics, rates and trends

124,662 crimes were recorded in Essex in the 12 months to July 2026, 79.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 51,892 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 21 counties covered by this site, Essex has the 11th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Essex was highest in the year to July 2021 (160,967 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (119,846). Over the whole period it fell 15%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Essex over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in robbery (+25%) and anti-social behaviour (+24%).

The largest falls were in theft from the person (-12%) and other crime (-10%).

Violence and sexual offences in Essex

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Essex recorded 51,892 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 41.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Essex

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Essex recorded 13,680 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Essex

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Essex recorded 9,526 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Essex

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Essex recorded 9,455 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Essex

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Essex recorded 8,497 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Essex

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Essex recorded 8,353 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Essex

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Essex recorded 7,643 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Essex

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Essex recorded 4,871 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Essex

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Essex recorded 4,057 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Essex

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Essex recorded 2,649 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Essex

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Essex recorded 1,386 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Essex

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Essex recorded 1,083 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Essex

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Essex recorded 844 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Essex

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Essex recorded 726 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the counties closest to Essex, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Essex.

12 areas within Essex, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Harlow had the highest rate (108.5 per 1,000) and Maldon the lowest (50.0). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Essex over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Essex has an estimated population of 1,563,365. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Essex sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Essex. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.