Crime in Witham West: statistics, rates and trends
493 crimes were recorded in Witham West in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Witham West at a glance
- Crime trends in Witham West
- Types of crime in Witham West
- Witham West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Witham West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Witham West
- Population and deprivation in Witham West
- Questions about crime in Witham West
- About this data
493 crimes were recorded in Witham West in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 218 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Witham West has the 2,135th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Witham West | Braintree | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 493 | 10,070 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 72.1 | 61.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 6,835 | 164,304 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Witham West was highest in the year to July 2018 (708 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (486). Over the whole period it fell 30%, 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 | 493 | 72.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 486 | 71.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 527 | 77.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 560 | 81.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 574 | 84.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 643 | 94.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 601 | 87.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 591 | 86.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 708 | 103.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 55 |
| June 2026 | 67 |
| May 2026 | 42 |
| April 2026 | 45 |
| March 2026 | 30 |
| February 2026 | 30 |
| January 2026 | 22 |
| December 2025 | 38 |
| November 2025 | 41 |
| October 2025 | 46 |
| September 2025 | 42 |
| August 2025 | 35 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Witham West 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 public order (+46%).
The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-30%) and vehicle crime (-29%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 218 | 31.9 | 0.93 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 69 | 10.1 | 0.66 | +10% |
| Public order | 38 | 5.6 | 0.84 | +46% |
| Shoplifting | 33 | 4.8 | 0.58 | -21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 31 | 4.5 | 0.67 | -30% |
| Other theft | 30 | 4.4 | 0.69 | -12% |
| Other crime | 16 | 2.3 | 1.11 | +14% |
| Burglary | 15 | 2.2 | 0.62 | +0% |
| Drugs | 15 | 2.2 | 0.67 | +0% |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 2.2 | 0.45 | -29% |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.9 | 0.65 | +200% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.7 | 0.75 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 0.17 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Witham West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Witham West recorded 218 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 44.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Witham West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Witham West recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 14.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Witham West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Witham West recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 46% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Witham West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Witham West recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Witham West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Witham West recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Witham West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Witham West recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Witham West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Witham West recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Witham West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Witham West recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Witham West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Witham West recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Witham West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Witham West recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Witham West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Witham West recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Witham West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Witham West recorded 5 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Witham West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Witham West recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Witham West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Witham West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Witham West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Witham Central | 795 | 121.3 | +68% |
| Witham North | 477 | 73.1 | +1% |
| Witham South | 415 | 51.0 | -29% |
| Hatfield Peverel & Terling | 402 | 59.7 | -17% |
| Silver End & Cressing | 738 | 72.0 | -0% |
| Kelvedon & Feering | 261 | 45.6 | -37% |
| Braintree South | 409 | 62.0 | -14% |
| Great Notley & Black Notley | 470 | 44.5 | -38% |
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 Witham West over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 86 |
| On or near Calamint Road | 37 |
| On or near Bentley Road | 23 |
| On or near Bluebell Close | 22 |
| On or near Bramble Road | 18 |
| On or near Bryony Close | 18 |
| On or near Cuppers Close | 15 |
| On or near Cornel Close | 14 |
| On or near Parking Area | 13 |
| On or near Colne Chase | 12 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Witham West 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 | 170 | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 136 | 27.6% |
| Not recorded | 69 | 14.0% |
| Under investigation | 37 | 7.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 28 | 5.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 27 | 5.5% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 1.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 6 | 1.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Witham West has an estimated population of 6,835. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Witham West sits in decile 4.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Witham West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.7% |
| Social rented homes | 23.3% |
| Private rented homes | 10.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.7 |
Is Witham West a safe place to live?
Witham West recorded 72.1 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 Witham West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 218 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (69).
Is crime in Witham West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Witham West was up 1% on the year before: 493 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 486 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Witham West?
Witham West 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 Witham West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.