Crime in Purfleet-on-Thames: statistics, rates and trends
448 crimes were recorded in Purfleet-on-Thames in the 12 months to August 2026, 81.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Purfleet-on-Thames
- Questions about crime in Purfleet-on-Thames
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (199), drugs (49) and criminal damage and arson (44) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 589th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Purfleet-on-Thames | Thurrock | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 448 | 18,319 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 81.3 | 101.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 5,513 | 180,989 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Purfleet-on-Thames of any year here (448 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 33%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 448 | 81.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 488 | 88.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 450 | 81.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 528 | 95.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 650 | 117.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 637 | 115.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 725 | 131.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 724 | 131.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 670 | 121.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 36 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Purfleet-on-Thames recorded notably more drugs (2.7 times the national rate) and vehicle crime (57% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (53% below) and public order (29% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 20 to 49, while vehicle crime fell from 94 to 43.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 199 | 36.1 | 34.2 | +7% |
| Drugs | 49 | 8.9 | 3.3 | +145% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 8.0 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Vehicle crime | 43 | 7.8 | 5.0 | -54% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 40 | 7.3 | 15.4 | 0% |
| Public order | 26 | 4.7 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 16 | 2.9 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 2.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Other crime | 4 | 0.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 4 | 0.7 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Purfleet-on-Thames; the highest is Chafford Hundred and West Thurrock (135.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Ebbsfleet Valley (50.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Purfleet-on-Thames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aveley | 760 | 78.2 | -4% |
| Chafford Hundred and West Thurrock | 2,816 | 135.8 | +67% |
| Dartford | 7,106 | 98.0 | +21% |
| South Ockendon | 1,969 | 84.2 | +4% |
| Stone (Dartford) | 381 | 70.8 | -13% |
| Swanscombe | 1,476 | 92.6 | +14% |
| Grays | 4,655 | 101.2 | +25% |
| Ebbsfleet Valley | 378 | 50.9 | -37% |
The 10 locations below account for 52% of the crime recorded in Purfleet-on-Thames over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Crusader Close” (33).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Crusader Close | 33 |
| On or near Wingrove Drive | 32 |
| On or near River Court | 31 |
| On or near Caspian Close | 26 |
| On or near The Limes | 25 |
| On or near Rapier Close | 23 |
| On or near Fanns Rise | 18 |
| On or near Kendal | 15 |
| On or near Marine Court | 15 |
| On or near Parking Area | 15 |
Of the 408 crimes in Purfleet-on-Thames with a recorded outcome, 37% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 40 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 151 | 37.0% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 145 | 35.5% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 38 | 9.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 18 | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 15 | 3.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.7% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Purfleet-on-Thames has an estimated population of 5,513 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has a younger population (5.3%, against 18.9%), fewer retired residents (6.2%, against 21.6%) and more private renting (34%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Purfleet-on-Thames average decile 3.4 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Purfleet-on-Thames | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 26.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 5.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 70.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 6.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 8.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 46.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 33.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Purfleet-on-Thames a safe place to live?
Purfleet-on-Thames recorded 81.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 589th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Purfleet-on-Thames?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 199 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by drugs (49).
Is crime in Purfleet-on-Thames going up or down?
Recorded crime in Purfleet-on-Thames was down 8% on the year before: 448 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 488 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Purfleet-on-Thames?
About 5,513 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 5.3% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Purfleet-on-Thames?
Purfleet-on-Thames 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.