Crime in Leigh: statistics, rates and trends
643 crimes were recorded in Leigh in the 12 months to July 2026, 63.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 17% on the year before.
643 crimes were recorded in Leigh in the 12 months to July 2026, 63.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 17% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 291 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Leigh has the 2,469th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Leigh | Southend-on-Sea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 643 | 20,967 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 63.7 | 113.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +17% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 10,088 | 185,256 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Leigh was highest in the year to July 2021 (984 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (551). Over the whole period it fell 27%, 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 | 643 | 63.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 551 | 54.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 606 | 60.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 647 | 64.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 764 | 75.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 984 | 97.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 940 | 93.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 874 | 86.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 886 | 87.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 71 |
| June 2026 | 53 |
| May 2026 | 67 |
| April 2026 | 48 |
| March 2026 | 56 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| January 2026 | 51 |
| December 2025 | 51 |
| November 2025 | 53 |
| October 2025 | 54 |
| September 2025 | 54 |
| August 2025 | 43 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Leigh 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. The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+24%) and other theft (+17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 291 | 28.8 | 0.84 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 74 | 7.3 | 0.48 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 56 | 5.6 | 0.82 | -8% |
| Public order | 47 | 4.7 | 0.70 | +9% |
| Other theft | 41 | 4.1 | 0.64 | +17% |
| Vehicle crime | 36 | 3.6 | 0.72 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 2.4 | 0.29 | +300% |
| Drugs | 23 | 2.3 | 0.70 | +44% |
| Burglary | 21 | 2.1 | 0.59 | -9% |
| Other crime | 9 | 0.9 | 0.42 | -25% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.6 | 0.72 | -14% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.6 | 0.35 | +200% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.5 | 0.37 | +67% |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.4 | 0.41 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Leigh
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Leigh recorded 291 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 45.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Leigh
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Leigh recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 11.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Leigh
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Leigh recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Leigh
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Leigh recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Leigh
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Leigh recorded 41 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 17% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Leigh
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Leigh recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Leigh
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Leigh recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Leigh
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Leigh recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Leigh
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Leigh recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Leigh
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Leigh recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Leigh
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Leigh recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Leigh
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Leigh recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Leigh
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Leigh recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Leigh
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Leigh recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Leigh, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Leigh.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Leigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blenheim Park | 715 | 63.5 | -0% |
| Chalkwell | 1,420 | 139.8 | +119% |
| West Leigh | 313 | 32.9 | -48% |
| Belfairs | 416 | 44.8 | -30% |
| Westborough | 619 | 53.4 | -16% |
| Prittlewell | 1,274 | 113.4 | +78% |
| Eastwood Park | 398 | 40.9 | -36% |
| St Laurence | 716 | 66.7 | +5% |
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 Leigh over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 84 |
| On or near Alexandra Road | 29 |
| On or near Pall Mall | 28 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 28 |
| On or near Ashleigh Drive | 28 |
| On or near Queen'S Avenue | 24 |
| On or near Carlton Drive | 20 |
| On or near Marguerite Drive | 19 |
| On or near West Street | 18 |
| On or near Maple Avenue | 17 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Leigh 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 | 218 | 33.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 185 | 28.8% |
| Not recorded | 74 | 11.5% |
| Under investigation | 49 | 7.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 28 | 4.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 22 | 3.4% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 2.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 8 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.5% |
Leigh has an estimated population of 10,088. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Leigh sits in decile 7.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Leigh |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.7% |
| Social rented homes | 1.8% |
| Private rented homes | 31.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 |
Is Leigh a safe place to live?
Leigh recorded 63.7 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 Leigh?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 291 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (74).
Is crime in Leigh going up or down?
Recorded crime in Leigh was up 17% on the year before: 643 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 551 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Leigh?
Leigh 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 Leigh. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.