Crime in Alresford & Elmstead: statistics, rates and trends
485 crimes were recorded in Alresford & Elmstead in the 12 months to August 2026, 54.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 37% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Alresford & Elmstead at a glance
- Crime trends in Alresford & Elmstead
- Types of crime in Alresford & Elmstead
- Alresford & Elmstead compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Alresford & Elmstead
- What happened after crimes were reported in Alresford & Elmstead
- Demographics of Alresford & Elmstead
- Questions about crime in Alresford & Elmstead
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (243), anti-social behaviour (54) and vehicle crime (41) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,833rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Alresford & Elmstead | Tendring | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 485 | 14,944 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 54.9 | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +37% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 8,837 | 156,759 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Alresford & Elmstead of any year here (485 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 23%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 485 | 54.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 355 | 40.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 322 | 36.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 385 | 43.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 366 | 41.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 367 | 41.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 329 | 37.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 384 | 43.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 394 | 44.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 56 |
| July 2026 | 51 |
| June 2026 | 43 |
| May 2026 | 38 |
| April 2026 | 35 |
| March 2026 | 38 |
| February 2026 | 32 |
| January 2026 | 33 |
| December 2025 | 30 |
| November 2025 | 47 |
| October 2025 | 49 |
| September 2025 | 33 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (60% below) and other theft (54% below) were well below it. On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 21 to 41 and violence and sexual offences rose from 179 to 243, while other theft fell from 34 to 26.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 243 | 27.5 | 34.2 | +36% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 54 | 6.1 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 41 | 4.6 | 5.0 | +95% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34 | 3.8 | 6.7 | -3% |
| Public order | 28 | 3.2 | 6.7 | +22% |
| Other theft | 26 | 2.9 | 6.4 | -24% |
| Burglary | 16 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 14 | 1.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 13 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Alresford & Elmstead; the highest is St Osyth, Tendring (153.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Little Clacton, Tendring (44.2).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Alresford & Elmstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightlingsea | 418 | 46.8 | -15% |
| Weeley & Tendring | 468 | 120.3 | +119% |
| Ardleigh & Little Bromley | 167 | 48.1 | -12% |
| St Osyth | 761 | 153.1 | +179% |
| Lawford, Manningtree & Mistley | 468 | 54.6 | -1% |
| Little Clacton | 158 | 44.2 | -19% |
| Bluehouse | 631 | 103.6 | +89% |
| Cann Hall | 418 | 67.9 | +24% |
The 10 locations below account for 45% of the crime recorded in Alresford & Elmstead over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Harwich Road” (51).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Harwich Road | 51 |
| On or near School Road | 36 |
| On or near Chapel Lane | 27 |
| On or near Tenpenny Hill | 21 |
| On or near Parking Area | 19 |
| On or near Little Acre | 17 |
| On or near Woodford Walk | 13 |
| On or near Ford Lane | 12 |
| On or near Lambourne | 12 |
| On or near St Andrews Close | 12 |
Of the 431 crimes in Alresford & Elmstead with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 54 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 182 | 42.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 115 | 26.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 47 | 10.9% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 27 | 6.3% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24 | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 13 | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.4% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Alresford & Elmstead has an estimated population of 8,837 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (4.8%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (8.4%, against 23.3%) and less private renting (9.3%, against 20.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Alresford & Elmstead average decile 6.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Alresford & Elmstead | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 85.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 4.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 9.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Alresford & Elmstead a safe place to live?
Alresford & Elmstead recorded 54.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,833rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Alresford & Elmstead?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 243 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (54).
Is crime in Alresford & Elmstead going up or down?
Recorded crime in Alresford & Elmstead was up 37% on the year before: 485 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 355 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Alresford & Elmstead?
About 8,837 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Alresford & Elmstead?
Alresford & Elmstead is policed by Essex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.