Crime in St Laurence: statistics, rates and trends
716 crimes were recorded in St Laurence in the 12 months to July 2026, 66.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St Laurence at a glance
- Crime trends in St Laurence
- Types of crime in St Laurence
- St Laurence compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St Laurence
- What happened after crimes were reported in St Laurence
- Population and deprivation in St Laurence
- Questions about crime in St Laurence
- About this data
716 crimes were recorded in St Laurence in the 12 months to July 2026, 66.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 324 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St Laurence has the 2,365th highest crime rate.
| Measure | St Laurence | Southend-on-Sea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 716 | 20,967 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 66.7 | 113.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 10,730 | 185,256 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St Laurence was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,235 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (716). Over the whole period it fell 24%, 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 | 716 | 66.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 776 | 72.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 776 | 72.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 894 | 83.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,023 | 95.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,048 | 97.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,119 | 104.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,235 | 115.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 940 | 87.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 90 |
| June 2026 | 73 |
| May 2026 | 50 |
| April 2026 | 69 |
| March 2026 | 70 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| January 2026 | 60 |
| December 2025 | 43 |
| November 2025 | 53 |
| October 2025 | 46 |
| September 2025 | 61 |
| August 2025 | 51 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St Laurence 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 drugs (+42%) and other theft (+29%).
The largest falls were in shoplifting (-75%) and criminal damage and arson (-20%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 324 | 30.2 | 0.88 | -2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 81 | 7.5 | 0.49 | +5% |
| Other theft | 54 | 5.0 | 0.79 | +29% |
| Public order | 50 | 4.7 | 0.70 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 4.1 | 0.60 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 44 | 4.1 | 0.83 | +10% |
| Drugs | 37 | 3.4 | 1.05 | +42% |
| Burglary | 25 | 2.3 | 0.66 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 23 | 2.1 | 0.26 | -75% |
| Other crime | 11 | 1.0 | 0.49 | -39% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.7 | 0.77 | +14% |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.7 | 0.48 | +17% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.6 | 0.68 | +200% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 0.11 | -60% |
Violence and sexual offences in St Laurence
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St Laurence recorded 324 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 45.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St Laurence
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St Laurence recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St Laurence
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St Laurence recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St Laurence
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St Laurence recorded 50 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 4% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St Laurence
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St Laurence recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St Laurence
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St Laurence recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St Laurence
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St Laurence recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St Laurence
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St Laurence recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in St Laurence
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St Laurence recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 75% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St Laurence
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St Laurence recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St Laurence
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St Laurence recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St Laurence
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St Laurence recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St Laurence
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St Laurence 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 up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in St Laurence
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St Laurence recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St Laurence, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St Laurence.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St Laurence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prittlewell | 1,274 | 113.4 | +70% |
| Westborough | 619 | 53.4 | -20% |
| Blenheim Park | 715 | 63.5 | -5% |
| Victoria | 3,619 | 256.6 | +285% |
| Chalkwell | 1,420 | 139.8 | +109% |
| Eastwood Park | 398 | 40.9 | -39% |
| Belfairs | 416 | 44.8 | -33% |
| Leigh | 643 | 63.7 | -4% |
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 St Laurence over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Caroline'S Close | 43 |
| On or near Derek Gardens | 42 |
| On or near Gannet Close | 35 |
| On or near Supermarket | 31 |
| On or near Lundy Close | 29 |
| On or near Nestuda Way | 29 |
| On or near Warners Gardens | 28 |
| On or near Avro Road | 24 |
| On or near Prince Close | 19 |
| On or near Eastwoodbury Close | 18 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St Laurence 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 | 259 | 36.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 191 | 26.7% |
| Not recorded | 81 | 11.3% |
| Under investigation | 61 | 8.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 35 | 4.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 23 | 3.2% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 2.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 1.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 11 | 1.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a drugs possession warning | 1 | 0.1% |
St Laurence has an estimated population of 10,730. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St Laurence sits in decile 5.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St Laurence |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.8% |
| Social rented homes | 13.5% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 |
Is St Laurence a safe place to live?
St Laurence recorded 66.7 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 St Laurence?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 324 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (81).
Is crime in St Laurence going up or down?
Recorded crime in St Laurence was down 8% on the year before: 716 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 776 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St Laurence?
St Laurence 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 St Laurence. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.