Crime in Rayleigh: statistics, rates and trends

1,811 crimes were recorded in Rayleigh in the 12 months to July 2026, 54.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 9% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 782 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Rayleigh has the 1,080th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Rayleigh was highest in the year to July 2019 (2,279 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,664). Over the whole period it fell 5%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Rayleigh 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 drugs (+87%) and anti-social behaviour (+53%).

The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-24%) and public order (-18%).

Violence and sexual offences in Rayleigh

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rayleigh recorded 782 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 43.2% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Rayleigh

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rayleigh recorded 223 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 12.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Rayleigh

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rayleigh recorded 132 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Rayleigh

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rayleigh recorded 128 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Rayleigh

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rayleigh recorded 118 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Rayleigh

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rayleigh recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Rayleigh

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rayleigh recorded 99 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Rayleigh

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rayleigh recorded 84 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 87% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Rayleigh

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rayleigh recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Rayleigh

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rayleigh recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Rayleigh

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rayleigh recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Rayleigh

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rayleigh recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 117% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Rayleigh

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Rayleigh recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Rayleigh

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rayleigh recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Rayleigh, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Rayleigh.

5 areas within Rayleigh, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Wheatley had the highest rate (106.8 per 1,000) and Trinity the lowest (29.3). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Rayleigh over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rayleigh 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.

Rayleigh has an estimated population of 33,368. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rayleigh sits in decile 8.4, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Rayleigh. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.