Crime in Braintree South: statistics, rates and trends
408 crimes were recorded in Braintree South in the 12 months to August 2026, 61.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Braintree South at a glance
- Crime trends in Braintree South
- Types of crime in Braintree South
- Braintree South compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Braintree South
- What happened after crimes were reported in Braintree South
- Demographics of Braintree South
- Questions about crime in Braintree South
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (223), anti-social behaviour (35) and criminal damage and arson (30) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,535th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Braintree South | Braintree | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 408 | 10,156 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 61.8 | 61.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +16% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 6,602 | 164,304 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Braintree South peaked in the year to August 2020 (579 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (351). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 18%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 408 | 61.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 351 | 53.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 365 | 55.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 486 | 73.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 548 | 83.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 540 | 81.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 579 | 87.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 489 | 74.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 500 | 75.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 47 |
| July 2026 | 38 |
| June 2026 | 37 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 22 |
| March 2026 | 30 |
| February 2026 | 48 |
| January 2026 | 26 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 37 |
| September 2025 | 34 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (65% below) and shoplifting (62% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 20 to 35 and violence and sexual offences rose from 183 to 223.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 223 | 33.8 | 34.2 | +22% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 35 | 5.3 | 15.4 | +75% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 30 | 4.5 | 6.7 | +11% |
| Other theft | 22 | 3.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 21 | 3.2 | 6.7 | -5% |
| Shoplifting | 21 | 3.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 19 | 2.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 8 | 1.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 1.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Braintree South; the highest is Braintree Central & Beckers Green (135.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Braintree West (29.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Braintree South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braintree Central & Beckers Green | 1,529 | 135.8 | +120% |
| Braintree West | 150 | 29.3 | -53% |
| Bocking Blackwater | 594 | 52.8 | -14% |
| Great Notley & Black Notley | 468 | 44.4 | -28% |
| Bocking South | 578 | 87.9 | +42% |
| Bocking North | 339 | 64.5 | +4% |
| Silver End & Cressing | 747 | 72.9 | +18% |
| Witham North | 447 | 68.5 | +11% |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Braintree South over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Challis Lane” (28).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Challis Lane | 28 |
| On or near Bamboo Crescent | 23 |
| On or near Saxon Bank | 21 |
| On or near Notley Road | 17 |
| On or near Nineacres | 14 |
| On or near Perryfields | 14 |
| On or near Tennyson Close | 14 |
| On or near Peartree Close | 13 |
| On or near The Waterings | 13 |
| On or near Shooter'S Way | 12 |
Of the 373 crimes in Braintree South with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 35 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 178 | 47.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 111 | 29.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 28 | 7.5% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 5.6% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 6 | 1.6% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Braintree South has an estimated population of 6,602 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (22%, against 34%) and fewer households without a car (16%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Braintree South average decile 5.6 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Braintree South | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 18.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Braintree South a safe place to live?
Braintree South recorded 61.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,535th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Braintree South?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 223 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (35).
Is crime in Braintree South going up or down?
Recorded crime in Braintree South was up 16% on the year before: 408 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 351 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Braintree South?
About 6,602 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 16% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Braintree South?
Braintree South 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.