Wickford Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

For a town of 27,406 residents, 109 reported crimes in February 2026 translate to a crime rate of 4.0 per 1,000, placing Wickford 37.5% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This relatively low rate, despite the area’s built-up nature, may reflect a combination of community resilience, policing strategies, and demographic factors. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 39.5% of all incidents (43 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (14.7%, 16 cases) and criminal damage and arson (10.1%, 11 cases). These patterns align with seasonal context: February, a winter month with reduced outdoor activity, may contribute to lower property crimes and higher incidents of interpersonal violence. The UK comparison highlights Wickford’s performance, with violent crime rates 31% below the national average (2.3 per 1,000) and anti-social behaviour 34% below (0.9 per 1,000). However, vehicle crime (0.4 per 1,000) was 14% above the UK average, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in local infrastructure or traffic management. The pre-spring lull in February may also explain the subdued activity in some categories, though the persistence of violence underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining public safety.

February 2026 saw notable shifts in crime trends, with possession of weapons rising by 100% (from 0 to 2 incidents) and criminal damage and arson increasing by 10% (10 to 11 cases). Conversely, drug-related crimes fell sharply by 85.7% (from 7 to 1), and burglary dropped by 80% (5 to 1). These changes reflect a mix of local factors, such as seasonal patterns and potential targeted interventions. The breakdown of crime types reveals that violent crimes (39.5% of total) remain the most prevalent category, but they are 31% below the UK average (2.3 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour also stood out, with 14.7% of total crimes reported, 34% below the UK average. Meanwhile, vehicle crime (0.4 per 1,000) was 14% above the UK rate, potentially linked to local traffic patterns or parking areas. These figures offer residents a nuanced view of safety concerns, with some categories showing marked improvement and others requiring further attention.

Wickford's crime rate in February 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents) marked a 30.5% decrease from the previous month's 5.7 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained downward trend. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 251 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately four crimes reported, a rate consistent with the seasonal lull typical of winter months. This monthly exposure rate, while low compared to the UK average, highlights the relatively stable environment in Wickford despite its built-up nature. The population-scaled perspective shows that 109 crimes across 27,406 residents equate to 0.4 per 1,000, a figure that underscores the area’s performance relative to national benchmarks. Such metrics offer residents a tangible understanding of their safety context, especially when contrasted with the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000.