Steeple Bumpstead Crime Rate

Steeple Bumpstead is a highly secure and peaceful settlement, with a safety score of 91/100, placing it well above the UK average of 79. The overall crime rate is just 37.8 per 1,000 people, which is significantly lower than the national average of 91.7. While the crime trend has shown an increase of 15.7% over the last year, this is measured against very low baseline figures, and the area remains one of the safest in the Braintree local authority. The property crime rate is also exceptionally low at 11.4 per 1,000. This data-driven overview explores the specific crime types and trends in Steeple Bumpstead to help residents maintain their high standard of safety.

In Steeple Bumpstead, the crime landscape is primarily defined by violence and sexual offences, which make up 43.8% of all reports, equivalent to 16.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. Public order offences (12.5%) and criminal damage and arson (10.4%) are the next most frequent categories. These figures reflect a pattern where social and personal offences are more common than acquisitive crimes in this rural settlement.

Property-related crime in Steeple Bumpstead is notably low, with an overall rate of 11.4 per 1,000 people. This is significantly lower than the UK average property crime rate. Within this category, burglary is the most prominent concern, accounting for 7.3% of total crime. Other theft and vehicle crime both sit at 5.2%. For residents, this suggests that while the area is statistically very safe, maintaining basic security measures for homes and vehicles remains important, particularly as burglary shows a peak in the afternoon hours when properties may be empty.

The crime trend in Steeple Bumpstead is currently increasing, with a 15.7% rise in total crimes compared to the previous 12-month period. However, it is essential to contextualise this; because the area has such a low overall crime volume, even a small number of additional incidents can result in a high percentage change. Monthly data from Dec 2024 to Nov 2025 shows the rate per 1,000 residents fluctuating at very low levels.

The year began with a low of 1.6 in December, followed by a minor peak of 4.3 in January. Throughout the spring and summer, the rate remained mostly between 1.6 and 3.9. A slight upward trend was noted towards the end of the year, with September at 4.3 and November reaching the period high of 5.1. While this upward movement warrants attention, the absolute risk to residents remains far below national and regional averages, and the area continues to be a very safe place to live.

How To Keep Safe in Steeple Bumpstead

The most common crime in Steeple Bumpstead is violence and sexual offences. While the total number of incidents is low, it is still important to be mindful of personal safety.

1. Afternoon Home Security: With 35% of burglaries occurring in the afternoon, always ensure doors and windows are locked if you are out for the school run or shopping, even for a short time.
2. Vehicle Vigilance at Night: Vehicle crime is most likely between 12am and 6am. If you don't have a garage, park in well-lit areas and consider a steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent.
3. Join the Neighbourhood Watch: In a close-knit community like Steeple Bumpstead, active communication between neighbours is one of the most effective ways to spot and deter suspicious activity.
4. Lighting is Key: Install motion-activated lighting around the perimeter of your home. This is particularly effective in rural settlements where dark nights can provide cover for opportunistic thieves.
5. Report Unusual Activity: Because crime is rare here, unusual vehicles or individuals stand out. Reporting these to the non-emergency 101 line helps maintain the area's high safety standards.

Crime timing in Steeple Bumpstead shows specific windows of vulnerability. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) is a notable period for property-related offences, with burglary accounting for 35% of crimes during these hours. This likely corresponds to times when residents are away from their homes. Theft also remains relatively high during the morning and afternoon, making up about a third of the offences in each period.

During the night (12am-6am), the focus shifts toward vehicle crime, which represents 35% of all reported incidents in this timeframe. Burglary also remains a risk at night (31%), suggesting that intruders may take advantage of the quiet, rural darkness. Interestingly, violence-related stats show 0% across the specific time periods in our breakdown, suggesting these incidents are less frequent or less tied to specific daily routines. For residents, the data highlights that daytime home security and overnight vehicle protection are the two most critical areas for personal safety management.

Steeple Bumpstead sits in a very quiet corner of Essex. When compared to the nearby town of Haverhill, which has a crime rate of 71.9 per 1,000, Steeple Bumpstead is considerably safer. However, it is surrounded by even smaller hamlets like Helions Bumpstead, Sturmer, and Castle Camps, all of which recorded a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 people in the latest data period. This suggests that while Steeple Bumpstead is a very safe residential hub, it is slightly more active than the most rural surrounding villages. For anyone looking for a balance between community amenities and high levels of safety, Steeple Bumpstead compares very favourably to the wider region.

In an area as safe as Steeple Bumpstead, the primary goal of security is maintaining that peace and preventing rare opportunistic crimes. With a property crime rate of 11.4 per 1,000, the risk is low, but the impact of a burglary can be significant. Statistics show that burglaries in this area often occur in the afternoon (35%) or late at night (31%).

Traditional security systems are often reactive, providing you with a video of a crime after it has already happened. For homeowners in Steeple Bumpstead, a proactive approach like scOS is far more effective. scOS uses AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to watch your property boundaries constantly. It doesn't just record; it identifies threats—such as someone loitering near a side gate—and can autonomously activate deterrents like lights or speakers to stop the intruder before they enter. This proactive prevention is the best way to ensure your home remains part of the statistics that keep Steeple Bumpstead's safety score so high.