Wickford Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Wickford's crime profile in July 2023 showed a marked contrast to the UK average, with a total crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents — 37.3% below the national average of 8.3 per 1,000. The built-up area within Basildon experienced a balanced distribution of crime types, with violence and sexual offences (49 cases) and anti-social behaviour (24 cases) dominating the statistics. These figures align with the area's character as a mixed-use town centre with retail, residential, and community spaces. The seasonal context of July — peak summer, school holidays, and festival activity — likely influenced patterns, with public order offences and anti-social behaviour potentially driven by increased foot traffic and outdoor events. While property crimes (49) matched violent crimes in quantity, the severity distribution differed, with violent crimes showing a slightly higher per capita rate (1.8 per 1,000) than the UK average for that category (2.8 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour remained 37% below the UK average, a trend consistent with local efforts in community engagement and policing strategies. The low rate of burglary (2 cases) and shoplifting (5 cases) — both 70% and 67% below UK averages respectively — suggests effective security measures in retail and residential areas. This data illustrates a generally low-crime environment, though the seasonal influx of visitors and residents during July may have created temporary pressures on public order management.

July 2023 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with bicycle theft, theft from the person, and possession of weapons all surging by 100% compared to June. This spike in bicycle theft — from zero to one reported case — could be linked to increased outdoor events and festivals in the area, where cyclists may leave bikes unattended. Conversely, burglary fell by 80% (from 10 to 2 cases), a decline likely tied to heightened community vigilance and summer-specific security measures. The drugs category also dropped sharply by 66.7%, though this remains a minor component of the overall crime picture. Violent crimes, however, showed no significant change despite the summer season, with 49 cases reported — 35% below the UK average for that category. Public order offences (15 cases) remained 3% below the UK average, a modest but consistent trend. Residents may find the 100% increase in possession of weapons particularly notable, though the absolute number remains low (2 cases). These fluctuations highlight the combination of seasonal activity and local policing effectiveness, with some categories responding strongly to environmental factors while others remain stable.

Wickford's crime rate in July 2023 (5.2 per 1,000) marked a 5.3% decrease from June's rate of 5.5 per 1,000, reflecting a continuing downward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 5 crimes per day over the 31-day period — a figure that, while seemingly high, must be contextualised against the area's population of 27,406 residents. The monthly exposure metric reveals that over the course of July, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 193 residents — a rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. This statistic underscores the relative safety of the area, even as specific crime categories fluctuated. When compared to the previous month, the most striking change was the 80% drop in burglary cases, which may indicate successful crime prevention initiatives or natural seasonal patterns. The population-scaled perspective further illustrates that Wickford's crime profile is low compared to national benchmarks, with 8 out of 12 crime categories recorded at 25% or more below UK averages. This includes categories like shoplifting (67% below) and burglary (70% below), which together account for 14.9% of total crimes. The consistency of these below-average figures across multiple categories suggests a systemic factor — possibly the area's compact, well-policed built-up environment — contributing to its lower overall crime rate.