Crime in Canvey Island: statistics, rates and trends
3,165 crimes were recorded in Canvey Island in the 12 months to August 2026, 82.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Canvey Island at a glance
- Crime trends in Canvey Island
- Types of crime in Canvey Island
- Canvey Island compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Canvey Island
- Streets with the most crime in Canvey Island
- What happened after crimes were reported in Canvey Island
- Demographics of Canvey Island
- Questions about crime in Canvey Island
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,354), anti-social behaviour (606) and criminal damage and arson (305) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 575th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Canvey Island | Castle Point | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 3,165 | 5,644 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 82.1 | 62.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 38,569 | 90,581 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Canvey Island peaked in the year to August 2019 (4,415 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (2,859). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 19%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 3,165 | 82.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,859 | 74.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,949 | 76.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 3,526 | 91.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 3,884 | 100.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 4,002 | 103.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 4,109 | 106.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 4,415 | 114.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 3,910 | 101.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 263 |
| July 2026 | 318 |
| June 2026 | 294 |
| May 2026 | 265 |
| April 2026 | 289 |
| March 2026 | 287 |
| February 2026 | 235 |
| January 2026 | 227 |
| December 2025 | 267 |
| November 2025 | 252 |
| October 2025 | 232 |
| September 2025 | 236 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (65% below) and robbery (62% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 421 to 606 and drugs rose from 68 to 87, while shoplifting fell from 231 to 115.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,354 | 35.1 | 34.2 | +14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 606 | 15.7 | 15.4 | +44% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 305 | 7.9 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Public order | 186 | 4.8 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Other theft | 175 | 4.5 | 6.4 | +13% |
| Shoplifting | 115 | 3.0 | 8.5 | -50% |
| Vehicle crime | 105 | 2.7 | 5.0 | -11% |
| Drugs | 87 | 2.3 | 3.3 | +28% |
| Burglary | 77 | 2.0 | 3.6 | +4% |
| Other crime | 76 | 2.0 | 2.1 | +23% |
| Possession of weapons | 29 | 0.8 | 1.0 | +12% |
| Bicycle theft | 21 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 20 | 0.5 | 1.4 | -9% |
| Theft from the person | 9 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Canvey Island; the highest is Basildon (120.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Hockley and Hawkwell (32.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Canvey Island |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thundersley and South Benfleet | 2,391 | 49.0 | -40% |
| Rayleigh | 1,822 | 54.6 | -33% |
| Southend-on-Sea | 21,255 | 114.7 | +40% |
| Hockley and Hawkwell | 512 | 32.1 | -61% |
| Stanford-le-Hope | 2,014 | 65.4 | -20% |
| Basildon | 14,622 | 120.6 | +47% |
| Wickford | 1,897 | 67.7 | -17% |
| Rochford | 1,226 | 85.7 | +4% |
Of the 5 areas within Canvey Island, Canvey Island South had the highest crime rate (104.0 per 1,000) and Canvey Island East the lowest (48.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canvey Island South | Neighbourhood | 7,598 | 790 | 104.0 |
| Canvey Island Central | Neighbourhood | 8,289 | 839 | 101.2 |
| Canvey Island Winter Gardens | Neighbourhood | 8,415 | 691 | 82.1 |
| Canvey Island North | Neighbourhood | 8,022 | 543 | 67.7 |
| Canvey Island East | Neighbourhood | 6,245 | 302 | 48.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 24% of the crime recorded in Canvey Island over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (178).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 178 |
| On or near Parking Area | 138 |
| On or near Runwood Road | 96 |
| On or near Haarlem Road | 58 |
| On or near Oak Road | 58 |
| On or near Winter Gardens Path | 58 |
| On or near Suffolk Way | 47 |
| On or near Furtherwick Close | 44 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 44 |
| On or near Knightswick Road | 41 |
Of the 2,559 crimes in Canvey Island with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 606 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,043 | 40.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 830 | 32.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 246 | 9.6% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 108 | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 91 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 65 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 53 | 2.1% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 47 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 45 | 1.8% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 18 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Canvey Island has an estimated population of 38,569 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (29%, against 18%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (14%, against 34%) and less social housing (7.5%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Canvey Island average decile 3.9 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Canvey Island | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 14.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 28.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 7.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 4.0% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Canvey Island a safe place to live?
Canvey Island recorded 82.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 575th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Canvey Island?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,354 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (606).
Is crime in Canvey Island going up or down?
Recorded crime in Canvey Island was up 11% on the year before: 3,165 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,859 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Canvey Island?
About 38,569 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 26% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Canvey Island?
Canvey Island 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.