Crime in Buckhurst Hill: statistics, rates and trends
668 crimes were recorded in Buckhurst Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 55.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Buckhurst Hill at a glance
- Crime trends in Buckhurst Hill
- Types of crime in Buckhurst Hill
- Buckhurst Hill compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Buckhurst Hill
- Streets with the most crime in Buckhurst Hill
- What happened after crimes were reported in Buckhurst Hill
- Population and deprivation in Buckhurst Hill
- Questions about crime in Buckhurst Hill
- About this data
668 crimes were recorded in Buckhurst Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 55.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 273 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Buckhurst Hill has the 1,048th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Buckhurst Hill | Epping Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 668 | 10,436 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 55.8 | 75.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 11,982 | 137,451 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Buckhurst Hill was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,117 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (668). Over the whole period it fell 40%, 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 | 668 | 55.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 687 | 57.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 694 | 57.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 764 | 63.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 767 | 64.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 960 | 80.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,024 | 85.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,117 | 93.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,107 | 92.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 82 |
| June 2026 | 67 |
| May 2026 | 48 |
| April 2026 | 63 |
| March 2026 | 54 |
| February 2026 | 49 |
| January 2026 | 47 |
| December 2025 | 56 |
| November 2025 | 53 |
| October 2025 | 47 |
| September 2025 | 51 |
| August 2025 | 51 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Buckhurst Hill 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 vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+18%) and public order (+17%). The largest falls were in other crime (-77%) and vehicle crime (-29%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 273 | 22.8 | 0.67 | +16% |
| Vehicle crime | 96 | 8.0 | 1.63 | -29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 52 | 4.3 | 0.64 | +18% |
| Burglary | 50 | 4.2 | 1.18 | -12% |
| Public order | 48 | 4.0 | 0.60 | +17% |
| Other theft | 45 | 3.8 | 0.59 | +0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 37 | 3.1 | 0.20 | -5% |
| Drugs | 31 | 2.6 | 0.79 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 0.7 | 0.08 | -58% |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.6 | 0.43 | +17% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.6 | 0.35 | +17% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.4 | 0.20 | -77% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.4 | 0.43 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.41 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Buckhurst Hill
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Buckhurst Hill recorded 273 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 40.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Buckhurst Hill
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Buckhurst Hill recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 14.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Buckhurst Hill
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Buckhurst Hill recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Buckhurst Hill
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Buckhurst Hill recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Buckhurst Hill
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Buckhurst Hill recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Buckhurst Hill
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Buckhurst Hill recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Buckhurst Hill
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Buckhurst Hill recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Buckhurst Hill
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Buckhurst Hill recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Buckhurst Hill
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Buckhurst Hill recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 58% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Buckhurst Hill
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Buckhurst Hill recorded 7 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 up 17% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Buckhurst Hill
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Buckhurst Hill recorded 7 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 17% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Buckhurst Hill
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Buckhurst Hill recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 77% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Buckhurst Hill
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Buckhurst Hill recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Buckhurst Hill
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Buckhurst Hill recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Buckhurst Hill, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Buckhurst Hill.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Buckhurst Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loughton | 2,693 | 79.5 | +43% |
| Chigwell | 842 | 66.3 | +19% |
| Waltham Forest | 29,474 | 105.4 | +89% |
| Redbridge | 30,588 | 95.8 | +72% |
| Waltham Abbey | 2,095 | 102.0 | +83% |
| Enfield | 36,643 | 113.1 | +103% |
| Waltham Cross | 1,602 | 120.3 | +116% |
| Epping | 973 | 95.2 | +71% |
2 areas within Buckhurst Hill, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Buckhurst Hill West had the highest rate (55.1 per 1,000) and Buckhurst Hill East & Whitebridge the lowest (54.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckhurst Hill West | Neighbourhood | 7,189 | 396 | 55.1 |
| Buckhurst Hill East & Whitebridge | Neighbourhood | 8,066 | 443 | 54.9 |
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 Buckhurst Hill over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 47 |
| On or near Blackmore Road | 38 |
| On or near Supermarket | 32 |
| On or near Duchess Grove | 27 |
| On or near Hornbeam Road | 22 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 21 |
| On or near Boxted Close | 18 |
| On or near Buckhurst Way | 18 |
| On or near Walnut Way | 16 |
| On or near Pentlow Way | 15 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Buckhurst Hill 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 | 255 | 38.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 232 | 34.7% |
| Under investigation | 49 | 7.3% |
| Not recorded | 37 | 5.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 25 | 3.7% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 3.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 2.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% |
Buckhurst Hill has an estimated population of 11,982. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Buckhurst Hill sits in decile 8.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Buckhurst Hill |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.5% |
| Social rented homes | 7.9% |
| Private rented homes | 19.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.7 |
Is Buckhurst Hill a safe place to live?
Buckhurst Hill recorded 55.8 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 Buckhurst Hill?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 273 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by vehicle crime (96).
Is crime in Buckhurst Hill going up or down?
Recorded crime in Buckhurst Hill was down 3% on the year before: 668 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 687 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Buckhurst Hill?
Buckhurst Hill 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 Buckhurst Hill. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.