Brentwood Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Brentwood recorded a crime rate of 5.9 per 1,000 residents in January 2026, marking a 13.2% reduction compared to the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure reflects a continued trend of relative safety for the local authority district, which has maintained a crime rate below the national benchmark for several months. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 38.5% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (10.9%) and shoplifting (10.7%). These patterns align with seasonal factors typical of January, a post-holiday period characterised by reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, which likely contribute to lower rates of outdoor crimes such as burglary and vehicle theft. However, the dominance of violent crime suggests ongoing challenges in areas with higher concentrations of social interactions, such as public spaces and residential neighbourhoods. Shoplifting rates remained consistent with UK averages, despite the seasonal dip in retail activity, indicating that targeted retail areas may still be vulnerable to opportunistic theft. The overall crime profile of Brentwood appears to be shaped by its suburban character, where a mix of residential and commercial zones creates distinct micro-environments for different types of criminal activity. While the area benefits from lower overall crime rates compared to the UK, the prominence of violent offences highlights the need for continued focus on community safety initiatives and targeted policing efforts in high-risk locations.

The month-on-month analysis reveals significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with robbery cases surging by 250% from 2 to 7 incidents. This sharp increase, while still relatively low in absolute terms, underscores the vulnerability of certain areas to targeted crimes. Concurrently, bicycle theft doubled from 1 to 2 incidents, potentially linked to the post-holiday period when new bicycles may be more frequently transported or displayed in public spaces. In contrast, drug-related offences declined by 40.5%, from 37 to 22 cases, a reduction that may reflect the impact of seasonal factors on illicit drug trade activity. The crime mix in Brentwood shows a notable shift, with violent crimes (38.5% of total) outpacing property crimes (33.3%), a reversal from some previous months. This imbalance highlights the need for continued attention to violent crime prevention strategies. When compared to UK averages, Brentwood's anti-social behaviour rate (0.6 per 1,000) is 35% below the national figure, suggesting effective community engagement or policing in this area. However, vehicle crime in Brentwood is 62% above the UK average (0.6 vs 0.4 per 1,000), indicating a specific challenge that may be tied to local infrastructure or parking patterns. A resident might find the 35% reduction in criminal damage and arson (from 41 to 25 cases) particularly noteworthy, as this could signal improved community resilience or increased surveillance in public spaces.

Brentwood's crime rate in January 2026 (5.9 per 1,000) represents a 7.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.4 per 1,000, indicating a measurable improvement in overall safety. When contextualised daily, this equates to approximately 15 crimes reported each day in the local authority district, a figure that, while relatively low, still necessitates vigilance in high-risk areas. Over the course of the month, the crime rate translates to one reported incident for roughly every 170 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average but still meaningful for a community of 79,326 people. This population-scaled perspective highlights the importance of maintaining current safety initiatives while addressing specific vulnerabilities identified in the breakdown. The comparison to the previous month also reveals a shifting crime profile, with the reduction in anti-social behaviour (30.8% increase from 39 to 51 cases) and criminal damage (39% decrease from 41 to 25 cases) suggesting that targeted interventions may be yielding results. However, the persistent gap in vehicle crime (62% above UK average) and the sharp rise in robbery (250% increase) indicate areas requiring further attention. These findings underscore the need for a nuanced approach to crime prevention, balancing broad community engagement with focused efforts on high-risk categories and locations.