Crime in Boreham and The Leighs: statistics, rates and trends
527 crimes were recorded in Boreham and The Leighs in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Boreham and The Leighs at a glance
- Crime trends in Boreham and The Leighs
- Types of crime in Boreham and The Leighs
- Boreham and The Leighs compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Boreham and The Leighs
- What happened after crimes were reported in Boreham and The Leighs
- Population and deprivation in Boreham and The Leighs
- Questions about crime in Boreham and The Leighs
- About this data
527 crimes were recorded in Boreham and The Leighs in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 9% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 207 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Boreham and The Leighs has the 2,132nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Boreham and The Leighs | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 527 | 15,643 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.2 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +9% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 7,297 | 188,803 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Boreham and The Leighs was highest in the year to July 2020 (635 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (484). Over the whole period it rose 6%, 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 | 527 | 72.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 484 | 66.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 556 | 76.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 620 | 85.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 605 | 82.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 562 | 77.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 635 | 87.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 500 | 68.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 499 | 68.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 32 |
| June 2026 | 48 |
| May 2026 | 54 |
| April 2026 | 43 |
| March 2026 | 45 |
| February 2026 | 52 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 39 |
| November 2025 | 50 |
| October 2025 | 42 |
| September 2025 | 36 |
| August 2025 | 44 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Boreham and The Leighs 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 burglary (+60%) and anti-social behaviour (+30%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 207 | 28.4 | 0.83 | +11% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 52 | 7.1 | 0.46 | +30% |
| Vehicle crime | 51 | 7.0 | 1.42 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 47 | 6.4 | 0.95 | +15% |
| Burglary | 32 | 4.4 | 1.24 | +60% |
| Public order | 32 | 4.4 | 0.66 | -6% |
| Other theft | 30 | 4.1 | 0.64 | +7% |
| Drugs | 22 | 3.0 | 0.92 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 3.0 | 0.36 | -31% |
| Other crime | 19 | 2.6 | 1.23 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.8 | 0.85 | +200% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.4 | 0.50 | +50% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 0.24 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Boreham and The Leighs
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 207 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 39.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Boreham and The Leighs
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Boreham and The Leighs
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Boreham and The Leighs
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Boreham and The Leighs
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Boreham and The Leighs
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 32 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 down 6% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Boreham and The Leighs
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Boreham and The Leighs
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Boreham and The Leighs
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Boreham and The Leighs
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Boreham and The Leighs
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 6 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 200% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Boreham and The Leighs
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Boreham and The Leighs
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 3 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Boreham and The Leighs
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Boreham and The Leighs recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Boreham and The Leighs, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Boreham and The Leighs.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Boreham and The Leighs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broomfield and The Walthams | 1,044 | 82.3 | +14% |
| Springfield North | 581 | 51.7 | -28% |
| The Lawns | 197 | 34.9 | -52% |
| Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park | 888 | 83.2 | +15% |
| Patching Hall | 669 | 72.4 | +0% |
| Trinity | 524 | 78.8 | +9% |
| Marconi | 1,245 | 133.4 | +85% |
| St Andrews | 790 | 83.6 | +16% |
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 Boreham and The Leighs over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 55 |
| On or near Generals Lane | 48 |
| On or near Main Road | 31 |
| On or near Parking Area | 24 |
| On or near Walkfares | 21 |
| On or near Dudley Close | 17 |
| On or near Garnet Road | 16 |
| On or near Coopers Lane | 14 |
| On or near Noakes Lane | 13 |
| On or near Lewin Place | 12 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Boreham and The Leighs 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 177 | 33.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 161 | 30.6% |
| Not recorded | 52 | 9.9% |
| Under investigation | 45 | 8.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 5.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 3.0% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 2.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 13 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 2.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.6% |
Boreham and The Leighs has an estimated population of 7,297. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Boreham and The Leighs sits in decile 6.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Boreham and The Leighs |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.9% |
| Social rented homes | 14.9% |
| Private rented homes | 12.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 |
Is Boreham and The Leighs a safe place to live?
Boreham and The Leighs recorded 72.2 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 Boreham and The Leighs?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 207 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (52).
Is crime in Boreham and The Leighs going up or down?
Recorded crime in Boreham and The Leighs was up 9% on the year before: 527 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 484 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Boreham and The Leighs?
Boreham and The Leighs 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 Boreham and The Leighs. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.