Crime in South Woodham Ferrers: statistics, rates and trends
804 crimes were recorded in South Woodham Ferrers in the 12 months to August 2026, 50.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 39% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in South Woodham Ferrers at a glance
- Crime trends in South Woodham Ferrers
- Types of crime in South Woodham Ferrers
- South Woodham Ferrers compared with nearby towns
- Areas within South Woodham Ferrers
- Streets with the most crime in South Woodham Ferrers
- What happened after crimes were reported in South Woodham Ferrers
- Demographics of South Woodham Ferrers
- Questions about crime in South Woodham Ferrers
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (321), shoplifting (164) and anti-social behaviour (71) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,136th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | South Woodham Ferrers | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 804 | 15,908 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 50.7 | 84.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +39% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 15,870 | 188,803 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in South Woodham Ferrers peaked in the year to August 2021 (1,087 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (577). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 804 | 50.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 577 | 36.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 681 | 42.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 791 | 49.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 927 | 58.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,087 | 68.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 980 | 61.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,079 | 68.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 801 | 50.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 81 |
| July 2026 | 85 |
| June 2026 | 71 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 65 |
| March 2026 | 85 |
| February 2026 | 98 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 55 |
| November 2025 | 58 |
| October 2025 | 55 |
| September 2025 | 38 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (71% below) and vehicle crime (70% below) were well below it. On the year before, shoplifting rose from 48 to 164 and public order rose from 27 to 53, while vehicle crime fell from 35 to 24.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 321 | 20.2 | 34.2 | +18% |
| Shoplifting | 164 | 10.3 | 8.5 | +242% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 71 | 4.5 | 15.4 | +61% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 53 | 3.3 | 6.7 | +36% |
| Public order | 53 | 3.3 | 6.7 | +96% |
| Other theft | 40 | 2.5 | 6.4 | +5% |
| Drugs | 33 | 2.1 | 3.3 | +14% |
| Vehicle crime | 24 | 1.5 | 5.0 | -31% |
| Burglary | 15 | 0.9 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 14 | 0.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.1 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than South Woodham Ferrers; the highest is Rochford (85.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Ashingdon (24.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs South Woodham Ferrers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hullbridge | 253 | 46.5 | -8% |
| Hockley and Hawkwell | 512 | 32.1 | -37% |
| Rayleigh | 1,822 | 54.6 | +8% |
| Runwell | 796 | 81.7 | +61% |
| Ashingdon | 160 | 24.9 | -51% |
| Wickford | 1,897 | 67.7 | +34% |
| Danbury | 292 | 43.5 | -14% |
| Rochford | 1,226 | 85.7 | +69% |
Of the 2 areas within South Woodham Ferrers, South Woodham-Elmwood and Woodville had the highest crime rate (73.8 per 1,000) and South Woodham-Chetwood and Collingwood the lowest (27.1).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Woodham-Elmwood and Woodville | Neighbourhood | 8,008 | 591 | 73.8 |
| South Woodham-Chetwood and Collingwood | Neighbourhood | 7,862 | 213 | 27.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 50% of the crime recorded in South Woodham Ferrers over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Willow Grove” (132).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Willow Grove | 132 |
| On or near Reeves Way | 72 |
| On or near Supermarket | 46 |
| On or near Squire Street | 44 |
| On or near Parking Area | 29 |
| On or near Trinity Row | 23 |
| On or near The Tabrums | 16 |
| On or near Galadriel Spring | 15 |
| On or near The Withywindle | 13 |
| On or near Cornish Grove | 12 |
Of the 733 crimes in South Woodham Ferrers with a recorded outcome, 28% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 14% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 71 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 235 | 32.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 208 | 28.4% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 104 | 14.2% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 68 | 9.3% | 11.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 39 | 5.3% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 32 | 4.4% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 2.3% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
South Woodham Ferrers has an estimated population of 15,870 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (5.5%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (9.8%, against 23.3%) and fewer students (4.7%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up South Woodham Ferrers average decile 7.6 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | South Woodham Ferrers | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 5.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is South Woodham Ferrers a safe place to live?
South Woodham Ferrers recorded 50.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,136th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in South Woodham Ferrers?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 321 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (164).
Is crime in South Woodham Ferrers going up or down?
Recorded crime in South Woodham Ferrers was up 39% on the year before: 804 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 577 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of South Woodham Ferrers?
About 15,870 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers South Woodham Ferrers?
South Woodham Ferrers 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.