Crime in West Leigh: statistics, rates and trends
325 crimes were recorded in West Leigh in the 12 months to August 2026, 34.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West Leigh at a glance
- Crime trends in West Leigh
- Types of crime in West Leigh
- West Leigh compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Leigh
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Leigh
- Demographics of West Leigh
- Questions about crime in West Leigh
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (145), anti-social behaviour (38) and vehicle crime (27) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,657th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | West Leigh | Southend-on-Sea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 325 | 21,255 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 34.2 | 114.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 9,515 | 185,256 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in West Leigh of any year here (325 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 30%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 325 | 34.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 342 | 35.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 417 | 43.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 438 | 46.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 470 | 49.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 553 | 58.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 517 | 54.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 609 | 64.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 462 | 48.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 39 |
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 20 |
| April 2026 | 25 |
| March 2026 | 29 |
| February 2026 | 31 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 28 |
| October 2025 | 30 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (74% below) and violence and sexual offences (55% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 23 to 38 and violence and sexual offences rose from 111 to 145, while vehicle crime fell from 67 to 27.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 145 | 15.2 | 34.2 | +31% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 38 | 4.0 | 15.4 | +65% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 2.8 | 5.0 | -60% |
| Burglary | 26 | 2.7 | 3.6 | +18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 19 | 2.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Public order | 19 | 2.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 17 | 1.8 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 13 | 1.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 3 | 0.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than West Leigh.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Leigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belfairs | 428 | 46.1 | +35% |
| Leigh | 669 | 66.3 | +94% |
| Blenheim Park | 734 | 65.2 | +91% |
| Eastwood Park | 404 | 41.5 | +22% |
| Chalkwell | 1,391 | 136.9 | +301% |
| Westborough | 656 | 56.6 | +66% |
| Prittlewell | 1,228 | 109.3 | +220% |
| St Laurence | 754 | 70.3 | +106% |
The 10 locations below account for 55% of the crime recorded in West Leigh over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (49).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 49 |
| On or near Eaton Road | 27 |
| On or near Grange Road | 23 |
| On or near Leigh Gardens | 21 |
| On or near Supermarket | 13 |
| On or near Barnard Road | 12 |
| On or near A13 | 10 |
| On or near Hamilton Close | 8 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 8 |
| On or near Theobalds Road | 8 |
Of the 287 crimes in West Leigh with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 38 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 102 | 35.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 88 | 30.7% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 25 | 8.7% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 6.3% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 18 | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 2.4% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 2.4% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
West Leigh has an estimated population of 9,515 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (2.9%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%) and fewer students (5.0%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Leigh average decile 9.6 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | West Leigh | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 59.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 11.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 81.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 2.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Leigh a safe place to live?
West Leigh recorded 34.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,657th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in West Leigh?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 145 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (38).
Is crime in West Leigh going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Leigh was down 5% on the year before: 325 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 342 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Leigh?
About 9,515 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Leigh?
West Leigh 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.