Crime in Rochford: statistics, rates and trends
1,203 crimes were recorded in Rochford in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Rochford at a glance
- Crime trends in Rochford
- Types of crime in Rochford
- Rochford compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Rochford
- Streets with the most crime in Rochford
- What happened after crimes were reported in Rochford
- Population and deprivation in Rochford
- Questions about crime in Rochford
- About this data
1,203 crimes were recorded in Rochford in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 567 reports (47% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Rochford has the 548th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Rochford | Rochford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,203 | 4,561 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 84.1 | 50.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 14,304 | 89,815 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Rochford was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,632 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,142). Over the whole period it fell 26%, 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 | 1,203 | 84.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,142 | 79.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,281 | 89.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,334 | 93.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,500 | 104.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,615 | 112.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,454 | 101.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,617 | 113.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,632 | 114.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 137 |
| June 2026 | 126 |
| May 2026 | 122 |
| April 2026 | 104 |
| March 2026 | 108 |
| February 2026 | 86 |
| January 2026 | 74 |
| December 2025 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 113 |
| October 2025 | 88 |
| September 2025 | 85 |
| August 2025 | 81 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Rochford 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 shoplifting (+131%) and drugs (+29%).
The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-41%) and burglary (-19%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 567 | 39.6 | 1.16 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 130 | 9.1 | 0.59 | +7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 89 | 6.2 | 0.92 | -11% |
| Public order | 81 | 5.7 | 0.85 | -8% |
| Other theft | 80 | 5.6 | 0.87 | +18% |
| Shoplifting | 67 | 4.7 | 0.57 | +131% |
| Vehicle crime | 54 | 3.8 | 0.77 | +15% |
| Drugs | 53 | 3.7 | 1.13 | +29% |
| Other crime | 29 | 2.0 | 0.96 | +4% |
| Burglary | 26 | 1.8 | 0.51 | -19% |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 0.9 | 0.94 | -41% |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.8 | 0.62 | +71% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.17 | -71% |
Violence and sexual offences in Rochford
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rochford recorded 567 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 47.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Rochford
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rochford recorded 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Rochford
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rochford recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Rochford
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rochford recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Rochford
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rochford recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Rochford
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rochford recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 131% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Rochford
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rochford recorded 54 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 15% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Rochford
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rochford recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Rochford
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rochford recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Rochford
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rochford recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Rochford
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rochford recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Rochford
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rochford recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 71% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Rochford
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rochford recorded 2 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 71% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Rochford, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Rochford.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Rochford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashingdon | 171 | 26.7 | -68% |
| Hockley and Hawkwell | 504 | 31.6 | -62% |
| Southend-on-Sea | 20,967 | 113.2 | +35% |
| Rayleigh | 1,811 | 54.3 | -35% |
| Hullbridge | 238 | 43.7 | -48% |
| Great Wakering | 366 | 51.4 | -39% |
| South Woodham Ferrers | 785 | 49.5 | -41% |
| Thundersley and South Benfleet | 2,375 | 48.7 | -42% |
3 areas within Rochford, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Roche South had the highest rate (92.2 per 1,000) and Hawkwell East the lowest (31.9). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roche South | Neighbourhood | 6,453 | 595 | 92.2 |
| Roche North and Rural | Neighbourhood | 7,556 | 583 | 77.2 |
| Hawkwell East | Neighbourhood | 5,771 | 184 | 31.9 |
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 Rochford over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Station View | 105 |
| On or near St Clare Meadow | 99 |
| On or near Parking Area | 94 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 55 |
| On or near Ormonde Avenue | 44 |
| On or near Union Lane | 32 |
| On or near Alice Gardens | 27 |
| On or near Old Ship Lane | 27 |
| On or near Pollards Court | 25 |
| On or near Pollards Close | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rochford 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 | 459 | 38.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 274 | 22.8% |
| Not recorded | 130 | 10.8% |
| Under investigation | 110 | 9.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 64 | 5.3% |
| Local resolution | 52 | 4.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 37 | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 30 | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 17 | 1.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 1.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
Rochford has an estimated population of 14,304. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rochford sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Rochford |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.8% |
| Social rented homes | 16.7% |
| Private rented homes | 15.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 9.5% |
Is Rochford a safe place to live?
Rochford recorded 84.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Rochford?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 567 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (130).
Is crime in Rochford going up or down?
Recorded crime in Rochford was up 5% on the year before: 1,203 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,142 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Rochford?
Rochford 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 Rochford. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.