Crime in Thundersley and South Benfleet: statistics, rates and trends

2,391 crimes were recorded in Thundersley and South Benfleet in the 12 months to August 2026, 49.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.

Crime map

Circle size: number of crimesSeptember 2025 to August 2026. Source: data.police.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0

Violence and sexual offences (1,009), anti-social behaviour (249) and criminal damage and arson (213) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,168th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.

MeasureThundersley and South BenfleetCastle PointEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to August 20262,3915,6445,618,064
Crimes per 1,000 residents49.062.396.7
Change on previous 12 months-5%+3%-1%
Population48,81690,58158,127,638

The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Thundersley and South Benfleet of any year here (2,391 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 29%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to August 20262,39149.096.7
Year to August 20252,51751.697.2
Year to August 20242,64354.197.9
Year to August 20232,78957.1n/a
Year to August 20223,07162.9102.0
Year to August 20213,60173.8101.4
Year to August 20203,35268.7102.7
Year to August 20193,67375.2101.7
Year to August 20183,37869.2100.8

Month by month

MonthCrimes
August 2026240
July 2026221
June 2026221
May 2026208
April 2026187
March 2026206
February 2026186
January 2026178
December 2025177
November 2025197
October 2025155
September 2025215

No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (67% below) and public order (57% below) were well below it. On the year before, vehicle crime fell from 187 to 123 and drugs fell from 100 to 78.

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000Change on year
Violence and sexual offences1,00920.734.2-1%
Anti-social behaviour2495.115.4+15%
Criminal damage and arson2134.46.7-7%
Shoplifting1903.98.5-17%
Other theft1573.26.40%
Public order1412.96.7+1%
Vehicle crime1232.55.0-34%
Burglary1182.43.6+1%
Drugs781.63.3-22%
Other crime450.92.1-20%
Possession of weapons300.61.0-3%
Robbery170.31.4n/a
Theft from the person110.21.7n/a
Bicycle theft100.20.8n/a

What each category covers: crime categories.

6 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Thundersley and South Benfleet; the highest is Basildon (120.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Hockley and Hawkwell (32.1).

TownCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Thundersley and South Benfleet
Rayleigh1,82254.6+11%
Canvey Island3,16582.1+68%
Wickford1,89767.7+38%
Hullbridge25346.5-5%
Hockley and Hawkwell51232.1-35%
Runwell79681.7+67%
Basildon14,622120.6+146%
Southend-on-Sea21,255114.7+134%

Of the 8 areas within Thundersley and South Benfleet, Tarpots had the highest crime rate (59.7 per 1,000) and St George's the lowest (33.9).

AreaTypePopulationCrimesPer 1,000
TarpotsNeighbourhood7,22243159.7
Thundersley SouthNeighbourhood5,10728956.6
St Michael'sNeighbourhood4,44324555.1
Hadleigh St JamesNeighbourhood7,08437152.4
St Mary'sNeighbourhood8,29841449.9
Thundersley NorthNeighbourhood7,52329839.6
AppletonNeighbourhood6,43723135.9
St George'sNeighbourhood5,89820033.9

The 10 locations below account for 30% of the crime recorded in Thundersley and South Benfleet over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (156).

LocationCrimes
On or near Supermarket156
On or near Parking Area142
On or near Petrol Station119
On or near Benfleet Road79
On or near London Road75
On or near Constitution Hill42
On or near High Road27
On or near Castle Avenue25
On or near Romsey Road25
On or near St Clement'S Crescent25

Of the 2,142 crimes in Thundersley and South Benfleet with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 249 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.

OutcomeCrimesShareEngland and Wales
Unable to prosecute suspect80737.7%34.5%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified76735.8%35.3%
Under investigation1949.1%11.5%
Awaiting court outcome1014.7%5.2%
Local resolution803.7%3.1%
Action to be taken by another organisation562.6%1.3%
Status update unavailable411.9%4.7%
Formal action is not in the public interest381.8%0.3%
Court result unavailable341.6%2.5%
Offender given a caution190.9%0.6%
Further action is not in the public interest50.2%0.3%

Thundersley and South Benfleet has an estimated population of 48,816 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (4.1%, against 17.1%), fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%) and fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Thundersley and South Benfleet average decile 7.3 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.

MeasureThundersley and South BenfleetEngland and Wales
Aged 0 to 1517.1%18.3%
Aged 65 and over24.9%18.9%
Residents 16+ in work57.1%57.2%
Residents 16+ unemployed2.3%3.4%
Residents 16+ retired28.7%21.6%
Residents 16+ who are students4.6%7.9%
Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar)21.3%33.8%
Residents 16+ with no qualifications20.2%18.2%
Households with no car or van13.0%23.3%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage83.3%62.5%
Social rented homes4.1%17.1%
Private rented homes12.5%20.3%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)7.35.5 (England)

Is Thundersley and South Benfleet a safe place to live?

Thundersley and South Benfleet recorded 49.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,168th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).

What is the most common crime in Thundersley and South Benfleet?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,009 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (249).

Is crime in Thundersley and South Benfleet going up or down?

Recorded crime in Thundersley and South Benfleet was down 5% on the year before: 2,391 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,517 in the previous 12 months.

What is the population of Thundersley and South Benfleet?

About 48,816 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).

Which police force covers Thundersley and South Benfleet?

Thundersley and South Benfleet 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.

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