Crime in Purfleet-on-Thames: statistics, rates and trends
453 crimes were recorded in Purfleet-on-Thames in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Purfleet-on-Thames at a glance
- Crime trends in Purfleet-on-Thames
- Types of crime in Purfleet-on-Thames
- Purfleet-on-Thames compared with nearby towns
- Streets with the most crime in Purfleet-on-Thames
- What happened after crimes were reported in Purfleet-on-Thames
- Population and deprivation in Purfleet-on-Thames
- Questions about crime in Purfleet-on-Thames
- About this data
453 crimes were recorded in Purfleet-on-Thames in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 201 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Purfleet-on-Thames has the 580th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Purfleet-on-Thames | Thurrock | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 453 | 18,082 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 82.2 | 99.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 5,513 | 180,989 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Purfleet-on-Thames was highest in the year to July 2020 (737 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (453). Over the whole period it fell 33%, 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 | 453 | 82.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 470 | 85.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 477 | 86.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 529 | 96.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 628 | 113.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 656 | 119.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 737 | 133.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 721 | 130.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 675 | 122.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 44 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 43 |
| April 2026 | 26 |
| March 2026 | 34 |
| February 2026 | 41 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 40 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 30 |
| September 2025 | 34 |
| August 2025 | 41 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Purfleet-on-Thames 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 drugs, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+18%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-49%) and other theft (-37%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 201 | 36.5 | 1.06 | +18% |
| Drugs | 51 | 9.3 | 2.83 | +183% |
| Vehicle crime | 48 | 8.7 | 1.77 | -49% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 8.0 | 1.18 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 39 | 7.1 | 0.46 | -2% |
| Public order | 23 | 4.2 | 0.63 | -15% |
| Other theft | 19 | 3.4 | 0.54 | -37% |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.6 | 0.46 | -18% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.9 | 0.43 | -69% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.7 | 0.88 | +300% |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.7 | 0.54 | -20% |
| Shoplifting | 4 | 0.7 | 0.09 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.4 | 0.37 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Purfleet-on-Thames
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 201 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 44.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Purfleet-on-Thames
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 183% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Purfleet-on-Thames
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 49% on the year before. It made up 10.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Purfleet-on-Thames
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Purfleet-on-Thames
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Purfleet-on-Thames
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Purfleet-on-Thames
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 19 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 37% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Purfleet-on-Thames
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Purfleet-on-Thames
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 69% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Purfleet-on-Thames
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Purfleet-on-Thames
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Purfleet-on-Thames
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 4 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Purfleet-on-Thames
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 2 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 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Purfleet-on-Thames, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Purfleet-on-Thames.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Purfleet-on-Thames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aveley | 775 | 79.7 | -3% |
| Chafford Hundred and West Thurrock | 2,735 | 131.9 | +61% |
| Dartford | 7,168 | 98.9 | +20% |
| South Ockendon | 1,956 | 83.7 | +2% |
| Stone (Dartford) | 387 | 71.9 | -13% |
| Swanscombe | 1,501 | 94.1 | +15% |
| Grays | 4,549 | 98.9 | +20% |
| Ebbsfleet Valley | 386 | 52.0 | -37% |
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 Purfleet-on-Thames over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Crusader Close | 33 |
| On or near River Court | 31 |
| On or near Wingrove Drive | 31 |
| On or near The Limes | 26 |
| On or near Caspian Close | 25 |
| On or near Rapier Close | 24 |
| On or near Fanns Rise | 18 |
| On or near Beacon Hill | 17 |
| On or near Oakhill Road | 16 |
| On or near London Road | 15 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Purfleet-on-Thames 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 | 155 | 34.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 141 | 31.1% |
| Under investigation | 42 | 9.3% |
| Not recorded | 39 | 8.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 20 | 4.4% |
| Local resolution | 17 | 3.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 3.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 2.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Purfleet-on-Thames has an estimated population of 5,513. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Purfleet-on-Thames sits in decile 3.4, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Purfleet-on-Thames |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 26.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 68.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 5.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 46.7% |
| Social rented homes | 19.4% |
| Private rented homes | 33.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.4 |
Is Purfleet-on-Thames a safe place to live?
Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 82.2 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 Purfleet-on-Thames?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 201 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by drugs (51).
Is crime in Purfleet-on-Thames going up or down?
Recorded crime in Purfleet-on-Thames was down 4% on the year before: 453 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 470 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Purfleet-on-Thames?
Purfleet-on-Thames 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 Purfleet-on-Thames. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.