Braintree Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Braintree’s overall crime rate in January 2025 stood at 5.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it 29.6% below the UK average of 7.1. This figure reflects a consistent pattern of lower crime levels in the area, which is likely influenced by Braintree’s character as a largely rural district with a mix of suburban and commercial zones. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 45.6% of all reported incidents, though this category remained 8% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour and shoplifting followed closely, each contributing over 8% to the total crime count. These patterns align with seasonal factors typical of January, including reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, which may contribute to lower rates of outdoor crimes such as vehicle theft and burglary. However, the dominance of violence-related offences suggests a need to consider local social dynamics, such as the impact of post-holiday periods on community interactions. The relatively low rates of property crimes—particularly shoplifting and vehicle crime—may be linked to Braintree’s quieter commercial centres compared to larger urban areas. Overall, the data illustrates a crime profile that is distinct from the UK average, with a focus on personal safety issues rather than property-related incidents, a trend that may be reinforced by the area’s demographic and geographic characteristics.

January 2025 saw significant shifts in Braintree’s crime profile, with robbery incidents doubling from 2 to 4—a 100% increase—marking one of the most notable month-on-month changes. This surge contrasts with a 40% drop in vehicle crime, which fell from 50 to 30, possibly reflecting reduced traffic during the post-holiday period. Anti-social behaviour also rose sharply, increasing by 67.4% to 72 incidents, suggesting a potential link to seasonal factors such as shorter days and indoor gatherings. Meanwhile, bicycle theft plummeted by two-thirds, from 3 to 1, a decline consistent with the area’s generally low levels of this crime type. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 45.6% of all crimes, but at a rate 8% below the UK average, illustrating Braintree’s continued divergence from national trends in this area.

Braintree’s crime rate in January 2025 fell by 3.9% compared to December 2024, continuing a trend of declining rates observed in recent months. This reduction aligns with the local authority’s broader context of lower-than-average crime levels, with the area recording 5.0 crimes per 1,000 residents—29.6% below the UK average. On a daily basis, Braintree saw approximately 26 crimes reported each day in January, a figure that reflects the area’s generally low crime profile. When considering the population of 164,304 residents, the monthly exposure to crime was 1 reported incident for every 201 residents, illustrating a relatively safe environment compared to national benchmarks. This population-scaled perspective underscores that Braintree’s residents face a lower risk of encountering crime than the average UK resident, though localised fluctuations in specific crime types remain worth noting.