Crime in Waterhouse Farm: statistics, rates and trends
660 crimes were recorded in Waterhouse Farm in the 12 months to July 2026, 96.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 18% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Waterhouse Farm at a glance
- Crime trends in Waterhouse Farm
- Types of crime in Waterhouse Farm
- Waterhouse Farm compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Waterhouse Farm
- What happened after crimes were reported in Waterhouse Farm
- Population and deprivation in Waterhouse Farm
- Questions about crime in Waterhouse Farm
- About this data
660 crimes were recorded in Waterhouse Farm in the 12 months to July 2026, 96.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 18% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 254 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Waterhouse Farm has the 1,342nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Waterhouse Farm | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 660 | 15,643 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 96.3 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +18% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 6,854 | 188,803 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Waterhouse Farm was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,042 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (559). Over the whole period it fell 20%, 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 | 660 | 96.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 559 | 81.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 846 | 123.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 953 | 139.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 884 | 129.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,042 | 152.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 953 | 139.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 922 | 134.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 827 | 120.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 65 |
| June 2026 | 61 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 72 |
| March 2026 | 55 |
| February 2026 | 36 |
| January 2026 | 51 |
| December 2025 | 58 |
| November 2025 | 46 |
| October 2025 | 51 |
| September 2025 | 53 |
| August 2025 | 53 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Waterhouse Farm 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. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, drugs.
The largest increases were in public order (+105%) and shoplifting (+48%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-28%) and vehicle crime (-27%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 254 | 37.1 | 1.08 | +25% |
| Shoplifting | 114 | 16.6 | 2.01 | +48% |
| Drugs | 55 | 8.0 | 2.45 | +6% |
| Public order | 45 | 6.6 | 0.99 | +105% |
| Other theft | 34 | 5.0 | 0.78 | +13% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 32 | 4.7 | 0.69 | -24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 31 | 4.5 | 0.29 | -28% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 3.9 | 0.80 | -27% |
| Burglary | 25 | 3.6 | 1.03 | +108% |
| Other crime | 18 | 2.6 | 1.24 | +29% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 1.2 | 1.20 | -11% |
| Robbery | 8 | 1.2 | 0.86 | +33% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.7 | 0.89 | -38% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.6 | 0.35 | +33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Waterhouse Farm
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Waterhouse Farm recorded 254 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 38.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Waterhouse Farm
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Waterhouse Farm recorded 114 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 17.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Waterhouse Farm
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Waterhouse Farm recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Waterhouse Farm
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Waterhouse Farm recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 105% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Waterhouse Farm
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Waterhouse Farm recorded 34 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 13% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Waterhouse Farm
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Waterhouse Farm recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Waterhouse Farm
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Waterhouse Farm recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Waterhouse Farm
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Waterhouse Farm recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Waterhouse Farm
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Waterhouse Farm recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 108% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Waterhouse Farm
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Waterhouse Farm recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Waterhouse Farm
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Waterhouse Farm recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Waterhouse Farm
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Waterhouse Farm recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Waterhouse Farm
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Waterhouse Farm recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Waterhouse Farm
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Waterhouse Farm recorded 4 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 33% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Waterhouse Farm, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Waterhouse Farm.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Waterhouse Farm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moulsham and Central | 3,977 | 255.8 | +166% |
| Marconi | 1,245 | 133.4 | +39% |
| Goat Hall | 251 | 41.3 | -57% |
| Moulsham Lodge | 197 | 34.9 | -64% |
| St Andrews | 790 | 83.6 | -13% |
| Writtle | 318 | 59.4 | -38% |
| Patching Hall | 669 | 72.4 | -25% |
| Trinity | 524 | 78.8 | -18% |
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 Waterhouse Farm over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 116 |
| On or near Elgin Avenue | 30 |
| On or near Sherwood Drive | 27 |
| On or near Evelyn Place | 23 |
| On or near Rookes Crescent | 20 |
| On or near Westway | 20 |
| On or near Waterhouse Lane | 20 |
| On or near Charnwood Avenue | 19 |
| On or near Epping Close | 18 |
| On or near Coval Wells | 16 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Waterhouse Farm 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 246 | 37.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 212 | 32.1% |
| Under investigation | 41 | 6.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 40 | 6.1% |
| Local resolution | 33 | 5.0% |
| Not recorded | 31 | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 2.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 16 | 2.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 1.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 6 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.5% |
Waterhouse Farm has an estimated population of 6,854. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Waterhouse Farm sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Waterhouse Farm |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 65.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 59.5% |
| Social rented homes | 22.0% |
| Private rented homes | 18.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
Is Waterhouse Farm a safe place to live?
Waterhouse Farm recorded 96.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Waterhouse Farm?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 254 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (114).
Is crime in Waterhouse Farm going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waterhouse Farm was up 18% on the year before: 660 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 559 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Waterhouse Farm?
Waterhouse Farm 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 Waterhouse Farm. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.