Crime in Danbury: statistics, rates and trends
306 crimes were recorded in Danbury in the 12 months to July 2026, 45.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 24% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Danbury at a glance
- Crime trends in Danbury
- Types of crime in Danbury
- Danbury compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Danbury
- Streets with the most crime in Danbury
- What happened after crimes were reported in Danbury
- Population and deprivation in Danbury
- Questions about crime in Danbury
- About this data
306 crimes were recorded in Danbury in the 12 months to July 2026, 45.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 24% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 133 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Danbury has the 1,226th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Danbury | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 306 | 15,643 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 45.6 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +24% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 6,717 | 188,803 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Danbury was highest in the year to July 2020 (487 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (231). Over the whole period it fell 3%, 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 | 306 | 45.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 247 | 36.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 295 | 43.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 231 | 34.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 251 | 37.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 426 | 63.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 487 | 72.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 429 | 63.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 316 | 47.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 27 |
| June 2026 | 37 |
| May 2026 | 54 |
| April 2026 | 21 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 24 |
| January 2026 | 12 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 19 |
| October 2025 | 17 |
| September 2025 | 14 |
| August 2025 | 38 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Danbury 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 criminal damage and arson (+24%) and violence and sexual offences (+23%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 133 | 19.8 | 0.58 | +23% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 26 | 3.9 | 0.57 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 25 | 3.7 | 0.24 | +9% |
| Other theft | 23 | 3.4 | 0.54 | -4% |
| Public order | 22 | 3.3 | 0.49 | +57% |
| Burglary | 21 | 3.1 | 0.88 | +17% |
| Vehicle crime | 17 | 2.5 | 0.51 | -23% |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.8 | 0.85 | +300% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.6 | 0.50 | +267% |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 1.3 | 0.16 | +50% |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.6 | 0.61 | +33% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 0.18 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.18 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Danbury
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Danbury recorded 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 43.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Danbury
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Danbury recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Danbury
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Danbury recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Danbury
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Danbury recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Danbury
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Danbury recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 57% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Danbury
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Danbury recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Danbury
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Danbury recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Danbury
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Danbury recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Danbury
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Danbury recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 267% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Danbury
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Danbury recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Danbury
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Danbury recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Danbury
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Danbury 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Danbury
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Danbury recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 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 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Danbury, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Danbury.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Danbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maldon | 1,576 | 66.2 | +45% |
| Chelmsford | 11,086 | 97.1 | +113% |
| Galleywood | 480 | 67.1 | +47% |
| South Woodham Ferrers | 785 | 49.5 | +9% |
| Witham | 2,005 | 79.0 | +73% |
| Writtle | 318 | 59.4 | +30% |
| Hullbridge | 238 | 43.7 | -4% |
| Runwell | 765 | 78.5 | +72% |
1 areas within Danbury, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Little Baddow, Danbury and Sandon had the highest rate (48.2 per 1,000) and Little Baddow, Danbury and Sandon the lowest (48.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Baddow, Danbury and Sandon | Neighbourhood | 8,171 | 394 | 48.2 |
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 Danbury over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hyde Lane | 36 |
| On or near North Hill | 20 |
| On or near Rumsey Fields | 19 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 18 |
| On or near The Avenue | 18 |
| On or near Main Road | 11 |
| On or near Belvedere Road | 10 |
| On or near Jubilee Rise | 9 |
| On or near Hammonds Road | 8 |
| On or near Cherry Garden Lane | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Danbury 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 | 104 | 34.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 81 | 26.5% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 10.5% |
| Not recorded | 25 | 8.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 23 | 7.5% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 3.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 3.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
Danbury has an estimated population of 6,717. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Danbury sits in decile 7.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Danbury |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 82.8% |
| Social rented homes | 10.2% |
| Private rented homes | 7.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.9 |
Is Danbury a safe place to live?
Danbury recorded 45.6 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 Danbury?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (26).
Is crime in Danbury going up or down?
Recorded crime in Danbury was up 24% on the year before: 306 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 247 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Danbury?
Danbury 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 Danbury. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.