Crime in Halstead (Braintree): statistics, rates and trends
912 crimes were recorded in Halstead (Braintree) in the 12 months to July 2026, 57.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Halstead (Braintree) at a glance
- Crime trends in Halstead (Braintree)
- Types of crime in Halstead (Braintree)
- Halstead (Braintree) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Halstead (Braintree)
- Streets with the most crime in Halstead (Braintree)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Halstead (Braintree)
- Population and deprivation in Halstead (Braintree)
- Questions about crime in Halstead (Braintree)
- About this data
912 crimes were recorded in Halstead (Braintree) in the 12 months to July 2026, 57.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 409 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Halstead (Braintree) has the 1,014th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Halstead (Braintree) | Braintree | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 912 | 10,070 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 57.4 | 61.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 15,888 | 164,304 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Halstead (Braintree) was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,402 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (912). Over the whole period it fell 32%, 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 | 912 | 57.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,031 | 64.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 920 | 57.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,341 | 84.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,402 | 88.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,248 | 78.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,297 | 81.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,307 | 82.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,338 | 84.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 77 |
| June 2026 | 77 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 109 |
| March 2026 | 84 |
| February 2026 | 62 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 58 |
| November 2025 | 46 |
| October 2025 | 90 |
| September 2025 | 81 |
| August 2025 | 97 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Halstead (Braintree) 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 (+62%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-46%) and drugs (-39%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 409 | 25.7 | 0.75 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 84 | 5.3 | 0.34 | -8% |
| Public order | 81 | 5.1 | 0.77 | +62% |
| Shoplifting | 80 | 5.0 | 0.61 | -46% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 66 | 4.2 | 0.61 | -18% |
| Other theft | 52 | 3.3 | 0.51 | -24% |
| Vehicle crime | 39 | 2.5 | 0.50 | -24% |
| Burglary | 35 | 2.2 | 0.62 | -19% |
| Drugs | 28 | 1.8 | 0.54 | -39% |
| Other crime | 23 | 1.4 | 0.69 | -18% |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.4 | 0.45 | -36% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.31 | +0% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 0.14 | -25% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.04 | -83% |
Violence and sexual offences in Halstead (Braintree)
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 409 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 44.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Halstead (Braintree)
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 84 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Halstead (Braintree)
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Halstead (Braintree)
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 46% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Halstead (Braintree)
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Halstead (Braintree)
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Halstead (Braintree)
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 39 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 24% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Halstead (Braintree)
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 35 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 down 19% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Halstead (Braintree)
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 39% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Halstead (Braintree)
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Halstead (Braintree)
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 7 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 down 36% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Halstead (Braintree)
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Halstead (Braintree) 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Halstead (Braintree)
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Halstead (Braintree)
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Halstead (Braintree) recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 83% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Halstead (Braintree), for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Halstead (Braintree).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Halstead (Braintree) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Braintree | 3,324 | 79.0 | +38% |
| Great Notley | 332 | 42.6 | -26% |
| Kelvedon and Feering | 261 | 45.6 | -21% |
| Sudbury | 1,845 | 76.3 | +33% |
| Witham | 2,005 | 79.0 | +38% |
| Tiptree | 389 | 46.6 | -19% |
| Colchester | 15,738 | 114.2 | +99% |
| Berechurch | 756 | 91.5 | +59% |
2 areas within Halstead (Braintree), ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Halstead St Andrew's had the highest rate (67.0 per 1,000) and Halstead Trinity the lowest (46.3). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halstead St Andrew's | Neighbourhood | 8,509 | 570 | 67.0 |
| Halstead Trinity | Neighbourhood | 7,379 | 342 | 46.3 |
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 Halstead (Braintree) over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 107 |
| On or near Parking Area | 44 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 42 |
| On or near Dooley Road | 24 |
| On or near A131 | 19 |
| On or near Cutting Drive | 19 |
| On or near Colne Valley Close | 18 |
| On or near Reynolds Drive | 18 |
| On or near The Causeway | 17 |
| On or near Roundacre | 16 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Halstead (Braintree) 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 | 355 | 38.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 283 | 31.0% |
| Not recorded | 84 | 9.2% |
| Under investigation | 66 | 7.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 28 | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 27 | 3.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 26 | 2.9% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 12 | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.2% |
Halstead (Braintree) has an estimated population of 15,888. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Halstead (Braintree) sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Halstead (Braintree) |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.3% |
| Social rented homes | 17.0% |
| Private rented homes | 15.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 |
Is Halstead (Braintree) a safe place to live?
Halstead (Braintree) recorded 57.4 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 Halstead (Braintree)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 409 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (84).
Is crime in Halstead (Braintree) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Halstead (Braintree) was down 12% on the year before: 912 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,031 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Halstead (Braintree)?
Halstead (Braintree) 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 Halstead (Braintree). Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.