Crime in Braintree West: statistics, rates and trends
150 crimes were recorded in Braintree West in the 12 months to August 2026, 29.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Braintree West at a glance
- Crime trends in Braintree West
- Types of crime in Braintree West
- Braintree West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Braintree West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Braintree West
- Demographics of Braintree West
- Questions about crime in Braintree West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (81), vehicle crime (16) and anti-social behaviour (13) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,786th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Braintree West | Braintree | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 150 | 10,156 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 29.3 | 61.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 5,116 | 164,304 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Braintree West peaked in the year to August 2020 (291 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (149). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 34%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 150 | 29.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 149 | 29.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 153 | 29.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 221 | 43.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 210 | 41.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 247 | 48.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 291 | 56.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 228 | 44.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 229 | 44.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 13 |
| July 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 15 |
| May 2026 | 11 |
| April 2026 | 15 |
| March 2026 | 17 |
| February 2026 | 2 |
| January 2026 | 5 |
| December 2025 | 13 |
| November 2025 | 7 |
| October 2025 | 15 |
| September 2025 | 19 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (54% below) was well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 81 | 15.8 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 3.1 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Anti-social behaviour | 13 | 2.5 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12 | 2.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 11 | 2.2 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 5 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 5 | 1.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Braintree West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Braintree West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braintree South | 408 | 61.8 | +111% |
| Bocking South | 578 | 87.9 | +200% |
| Braintree Central & Beckers Green | 1,529 | 135.8 | +363% |
| Great Notley & Black Notley | 468 | 44.4 | +51% |
| Bocking Blackwater | 594 | 52.8 | +80% |
| Bocking North | 339 | 64.5 | +120% |
| Silver End & Cressing | 747 | 72.9 | +149% |
| Three Fields | 270 | 39.3 | +34% |
The 10 locations below account for 58% of the crime recorded in Braintree West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hillside Gardens” and “Lister Road” (16 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hillside Gardens | 16 |
| On or near Lister Road | 16 |
| On or near Graynes Close | 15 |
| On or near London Road | 8 |
| On or near Maple Avenue | 8 |
| On or near Notley Road | 7 |
| On or near Tortoiseshell Way | 5 |
| On or near Francis Road | 4 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 4 |
| On or near Vauxhall Drive | 4 |
Of the 137 crimes in Braintree West with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 13 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 56 | 40.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 46 | 33.6% | 35.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 8.8% | 1.3% |
| Under investigation | 9 | 6.6% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 2.9% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 1 | 0.7% | 4.7% |
Braintree West has an estimated population of 5,116 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (5.2%, against 17.1%), fewer students (4.4%, against 7.9%) and fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Braintree West average decile 9.0 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Braintree West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 5.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Braintree West a safe place to live?
Braintree West recorded 29.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,786th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Braintree West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 81 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by vehicle crime (16).
Is crime in Braintree West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Braintree West was almost unchanged on the year before: 150 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 149 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Braintree West?
About 5,116 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Braintree West?
Braintree West 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.