Crime in South Woodham Ferrers: statistics, rates and trends
785 crimes were recorded in South Woodham Ferrers in the 12 months to July 2026, 49.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 37% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in South Woodham Ferrers
- Questions about crime in South Woodham Ferrers
- About this data
785 crimes were recorded in South Woodham Ferrers in the 12 months to July 2026, 49.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 37% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 327 reports (42% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, South Woodham Ferrers has the 1,161st highest crime rate.
| Measure | South Woodham Ferrers | Chelmsford | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 785 | 15,643 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 49.5 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +37% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 15,870 | 188,803 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in South Woodham Ferrers was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,080 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (574). Over the whole period it fell 2%, 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 | 785 | 49.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 574 | 36.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 675 | 42.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 802 | 50.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 949 | 59.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,080 | 68.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 979 | 61.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,061 | 66.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 805 | 50.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 62 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in South Woodham Ferrers 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 (+191%) and public order (+68%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-26%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 327 | 20.6 | 0.60 | +22% |
| Shoplifting | 137 | 8.6 | 1.04 | +191% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 68 | 4.3 | 0.28 | +55% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 58 | 3.7 | 0.54 | +38% |
| Public order | 52 | 3.3 | 0.49 | +68% |
| Other theft | 43 | 2.7 | 0.42 | +48% |
| Drugs | 32 | 2.0 | 0.62 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 25 | 1.6 | 0.32 | -26% |
| Burglary | 16 | 1.0 | 0.29 | +14% |
| Other crime | 11 | 0.7 | 0.33 | -31% |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.4 | 0.33 | +250% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 0.19 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.15 | -67% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.1 | 0.13 | -67% |
Violence and sexual offences in South Woodham Ferrers
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 327 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 41.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in South Woodham Ferrers
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 137 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 191% on the year before. It made up 17.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in South Woodham Ferrers
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 55% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in South Woodham Ferrers
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in South Woodham Ferrers
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 68% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in South Woodham Ferrers
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in South Woodham Ferrers
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in South Woodham Ferrers
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in South Woodham Ferrers
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in South Woodham Ferrers
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in South Woodham Ferrers
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 7 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 250% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in South Woodham Ferrers
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in South Woodham Ferrers
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. South Woodham Ferrers 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 67% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in South Woodham Ferrers
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to South Woodham Ferrers, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to South Woodham Ferrers.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs South Woodham Ferrers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hullbridge | 238 | 43.7 | -12% |
| Hockley and Hawkwell | 504 | 31.6 | -36% |
| Rayleigh | 1,811 | 54.3 | +10% |
| Runwell | 765 | 78.5 | +59% |
| Ashingdon | 171 | 26.7 | -46% |
| Wickford | 1,856 | 66.3 | +34% |
| Danbury | 306 | 45.6 | -8% |
| Rochford | 1,203 | 84.1 | +70% |
2 areas within South Woodham Ferrers, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. South Woodham-Elmwood and Woodville had the highest rate (71.1 per 1,000) and South Woodham-Chetwood and Collingwood the lowest (27.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Woodham-Elmwood and Woodville | Neighbourhood | 8,008 | 569 | 71.1 |
| South Woodham-Chetwood and Collingwood | Neighbourhood | 7,862 | 216 | 27.5 |
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 South Woodham Ferrers over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Willow Grove | 107 |
| On or near Reeves Way | 72 |
| On or near Squire Street | 48 |
| On or near Supermarket | 43 |
| On or near Parking Area | 35 |
| On or near Trinity Row | 20 |
| On or near The Tabrums | 16 |
| On or near Galadriel Spring | 15 |
| On or near The Withywindle | 15 |
| On or near Littlecroft | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in South Woodham Ferrers 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 | 235 | 29.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 207 | 26.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 95 | 12.1% |
| Not recorded | 68 | 8.7% |
| Under investigation | 59 | 7.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 37 | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 33 | 4.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 21 | 2.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
South Woodham Ferrers has an estimated population of 15,870. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in South Woodham Ferrers sits in decile 7.6, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | South Woodham Ferrers |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.0% |
| Social rented homes | 5.5% |
| Private rented homes | 15.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.6 |
Is South Woodham Ferrers a safe place to live?
South Woodham Ferrers recorded 49.5 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 South Woodham Ferrers?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 327 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (137).
Is crime in South Woodham Ferrers going up or down?
Recorded crime in South Woodham Ferrers was up 37% on the year before: 785 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 574 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers South Woodham Ferrers?
South Woodham Ferrers 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 South Woodham Ferrers. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.