Crime in Brentwood district: statistics, rates and trends
5,874 crimes were recorded in Brentwood district in the 12 months to July 2026, 74.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Brentwood district at a glance
- Crime trends in Brentwood district
- Types of crime in Brentwood district
- Brentwood district compared with nearby districts
- Areas within Brentwood district
- Streets with the most crime in Brentwood district
- What happened after crimes were reported in Brentwood district
- Population and deprivation in Brentwood district
- Questions about crime in Brentwood district
- About this data
5,874 crimes were recorded in Brentwood district in the 12 months to July 2026, 74.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,966 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Brentwood district has the 203rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Brentwood district | Essex | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 5,874 | 124,662 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 74.0 | 79.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 79,326 | 1,563,365 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Brentwood district was highest in the year to July 2021 (7,915 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (5,597). Over the whole period it fell 10%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 5,874 | 74.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 5,597 | 70.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 5,747 | 72.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 6,351 | 80.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 6,585 | 83.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 7,915 | 99.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 7,889 | 99.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 7,563 | 95.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 6,551 | 82.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 504 |
| June 2026 | 502 |
| May 2026 | 532 |
| April 2026 | 444 |
| March 2026 | 481 |
| February 2026 | 446 |
| January 2026 | 468 |
| December 2025 | 506 |
| November 2025 | 495 |
| October 2025 | 448 |
| September 2025 | 489 |
| August 2025 | 559 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Brentwood district 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. Rates were well above the national level for vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+17%) and anti-social behaviour (+15%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-44%) and burglary (-21%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,966 | 24.8 | 0.72 | +17% |
| Shoplifting | 742 | 9.4 | 1.13 | +1% |
| Vehicle crime | 660 | 8.3 | 1.69 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 579 | 7.3 | 0.48 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 401 | 5.1 | 0.75 | +2% |
| Other theft | 396 | 5.0 | 0.78 | -2% |
| Public order | 352 | 4.4 | 0.67 | +0% |
| Drugs | 292 | 3.7 | 1.13 | -5% |
| Burglary | 213 | 2.7 | 0.76 | -21% |
| Other crime | 121 | 1.5 | 0.72 | -7% |
| Possession of weapons | 62 | 0.8 | 0.80 | +15% |
| Robbery | 37 | 0.5 | 0.35 | -18% |
| Theft from the person | 28 | 0.4 | 0.21 | -44% |
| Bicycle theft | 25 | 0.3 | 0.38 | +67% |
Violence and sexual offences in Brentwood district
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Brentwood district recorded 1,966 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 33.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Brentwood district
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Brentwood district recorded 742 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 12.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Brentwood district
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Brentwood district recorded 660 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 11.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Brentwood district
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Brentwood district recorded 579 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Brentwood district
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Brentwood district recorded 401 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Brentwood district
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Brentwood district recorded 396 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Brentwood district
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Brentwood district recorded 352 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Brentwood district
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Brentwood district recorded 292 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Brentwood district
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Brentwood district recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Brentwood district
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Brentwood district recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Brentwood district
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Brentwood district recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Brentwood district
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Brentwood district recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Brentwood district
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Brentwood district recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Brentwood district
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Brentwood district recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the districts closest to Brentwood district, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Brentwood district.
| District | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Brentwood district |
|---|---|---|---|
| Havering | 24,479 | 88.6 | +20% |
| Basildon | 19,018 | 98.2 | +33% |
| Thurrock | 18,082 | 99.9 | +35% |
| Chelmsford | 15,643 | 82.9 | +12% |
| Barking and Dagenham | 24,389 | 104.8 | +42% |
| Epping Forest | 10,436 | 75.9 | +3% |
| Redbridge | 30,687 | 95.5 | +29% |
| Castle Point | 5,624 | 62.1 | -16% |
20 areas within Brentwood district, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Brentwood North had the highest rate (129.7 per 1,000) and Doddinghurst the lowest (25.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brentwood North | Neighbourhood | 7,543 | 978 | 129.7 |
| Warley | Neighbourhood | 5,110 | 490 | 95.9 |
| Brentwood West | Neighbourhood | 6,580 | 624 | 94.8 |
| Brentwood South | Neighbourhood | 5,980 | 567 | 94.8 |
| Pilgrims Hatch | Neighbourhood | 6,395 | 578 | 90.4 |
| West Horndon | Town | 1,682 | 152 | 90.4 |
| Brizes, Stondon Massey & South Weald | Neighbourhood | 6,505 | 559 | 85.9 |
| Brentwood | Town | 58,762 | 4,853 | 82.6 |
| Shenfield | Neighbourhood | 5,569 | 405 | 72.7 |
| Kelvedon Hatch | Town | 1,716 | 123 | 71.7 |
| Hutton North | Neighbourhood | 5,892 | 354 | 60.1 |
| Herongate, Ingrave & West Horndon | Neighbourhood | 3,910 | 215 | 55.0 |
| Blackmore | Town | 1,169 | 60 | 51.3 |
| Hutton East | Neighbourhood | 6,221 | 309 | 49.7 |
| Hutton South | Neighbourhood | 7,383 | 331 | 44.8 |
| Ingatestone, Fryerning & Mountnessing | Neighbourhood | 6,638 | 293 | 44.1 |
| Ingatestone | Town | 4,626 | 182 | 39.3 |
| Blackmore & Doddinghurst | Neighbourhood | 5,600 | 171 | 30.5 |
| Ingrave and Herongate | Town | 2,228 | 63 | 28.3 |
| Doddinghurst | Town | 4,431 | 111 | 25.1 |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Brentwood district over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 307 |
| On or near Parking Area | 295 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 213 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 147 |
| On or near William Hunter Way | 137 |
| On or near Osborne Road | 110 |
| On or near High Street | 94 |
| On or near Moores Place | 86 |
| On or near The Mount | 69 |
| On or near Fairfield Road | 65 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Brentwood district 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 2,157 | 36.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,376 | 23.4% |
| Not recorded | 579 | 9.9% |
| Under investigation | 482 | 8.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 326 | 5.5% |
| Local resolution | 276 | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 274 | 4.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 170 | 2.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 116 | 2.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 54 | 0.9% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 50 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.2% |
Brentwood district has an estimated population of 79,326. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Brentwood district sits in decile 7.6, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Brentwood district |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.6% |
| Social rented homes | 11.3% |
| Private rented homes | 16.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.6 |
Is Brentwood district a safe place to live?
Brentwood district recorded 74.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Brentwood district?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,966 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (742).
Is crime in Brentwood district going up or down?
Recorded crime in Brentwood district was up 5% on the year before: 5,874 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 5,597 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Brentwood district?
Brentwood district is policed by Essex. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Brentwood district. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.