Crime in Brentwood: statistics, rates and trends

4,853 crimes were recorded in Brentwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,640 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Brentwood has the 571st highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Brentwood was highest in the year to July 2021 (6,287 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (4,583). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Brentwood 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, vehicle crime, drugs.

The largest increases were in possession of weapons (+30%) and violence and sexual offences (+20%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-48%) and burglary (-31%).

Violence and sexual offences in Brentwood

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Brentwood recorded 1,640 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 33.8% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Brentwood

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Brentwood recorded 698 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 14.4% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Brentwood

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Brentwood recorded 507 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Brentwood

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Brentwood recorded 451 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Brentwood

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Brentwood recorded 323 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Brentwood

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Brentwood recorded 307 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Brentwood

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Brentwood recorded 290 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Brentwood

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Brentwood recorded 265 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Brentwood

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Brentwood recorded 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Brentwood

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Brentwood recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Brentwood

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Brentwood recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Brentwood

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Brentwood recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Brentwood

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Brentwood recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 108% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Brentwood

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Brentwood recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Brentwood, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Brentwood.

10 areas within Brentwood, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Brentwood North had the highest rate (129.7 per 1,000) and Hutton South the lowest (44.8). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Brentwood over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Brentwood 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.

Brentwood has an estimated population of 58,762. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Brentwood sits in decile 7.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Brentwood. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.