Crime in Boreham and The Leighs: statistics, rates and trends
543 crimes were recorded in Boreham and The Leighs in the 12 months to August 2026, 74.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Boreham and The Leighs
- Questions about crime in Boreham and The Leighs
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (201), anti-social behaviour (59) and vehicle crime (56) made up 58% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,046th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Boreham and The Leighs | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 543 | 15,908 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 74.4 | 84.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +10% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 7,297 | 188,803 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Boreham and The Leighs peaked in the year to August 2020 (618 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (495). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 543 | 74.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 495 | 67.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 545 | 74.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 611 | 83.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 605 | 82.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 576 | 78.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 618 | 84.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 522 | 71.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 497 | 68.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 60 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Boreham and The Leighs recorded notably more vehicle crime (54% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (61% below) and anti-social behaviour (47% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 38 to 59 and other theft rose from 26 to 31, while shoplifting fell from 32 to 24.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 201 | 27.5 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 59 | 8.1 | 15.4 | +55% |
| Vehicle crime | 56 | 7.7 | 5.0 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 47 | 6.4 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Public order | 37 | 5.1 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Burglary | 32 | 4.4 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other theft | 31 | 4.2 | 6.4 | +19% |
| Drugs | 27 | 3.7 | 3.3 | +12% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 3.3 | 8.5 | -25% |
| Other crime | 17 | 2.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Boreham and The Leighs; the highest is Marconi (137.1 per 1,000) and the lowest The Lawns (33.8).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Boreham and The Leighs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broomfield and The Walthams | 1,073 | 84.6 | +14% |
| Springfield North | 583 | 51.9 | -30% |
| The Lawns | 191 | 33.8 | -55% |
| Chelmer Village and Beaulieu Park | 898 | 84.1 | +13% |
| Patching Hall | 674 | 73.0 | -2% |
| Trinity | 547 | 82.3 | +11% |
| Marconi | 1,279 | 137.1 | +84% |
| St Andrews | 808 | 85.5 | +15% |
The 10 locations below account for 49% of the crime recorded in Boreham and The Leighs over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (57).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 57 |
| On or near Generals Lane | 53 |
| On or near Main Road | 37 |
| On or near Parking Area | 25 |
| On or near Walkfares | 21 |
| On or near Dudley Close | 16 |
| On or near Garnet Road | 16 |
| On or near Coopers Lane | 14 |
| On or near Noakes Lane | 14 |
| On or near Drovers Way | 13 |
Of the 484 crimes in Boreham and The Leighs with a recorded outcome, 35% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 59 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 172 | 35.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 167 | 34.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 51 | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 6.0% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 3.3% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 16 | 3.3% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 1.9% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Boreham and The Leighs has an estimated population of 7,297 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (8.8%, against 23.3%) and less private renting (12%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Boreham and The Leighs average decile 6.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Boreham and The Leighs | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 20.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Boreham and The Leighs a safe place to live?
Boreham and The Leighs recorded 74.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,046th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Boreham and The Leighs?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 201 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (59).
Is crime in Boreham and The Leighs going up or down?
Recorded crime in Boreham and The Leighs was up 10% on the year before: 543 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 495 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Boreham and The Leighs?
About 7,297 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Boreham and The Leighs?
Boreham and The Leighs 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.