Canvey Island Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Canvey Island's crime profile in February 2026 reveals a distinct balance of violent and property crimes, with violent offences dominating the landscape. The overall crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents, 4.7% below the UK average, masks a complex distribution of crime types that reflect both local characteristics and seasonal dynamics. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 37.9% of all crimes, a stark contrast to the 20.4% share of anti-social behaviour and the 8.1% contribution from criminal damage and arson. This concentration of violent crime, while slightly lower than the previous month, remains significantly higher than the UK average for this category (2.3 per 1,000, 1% below). The dominance of violent offences may be partly explained by the area's coastal demographics and the social dynamics of a mixed residential and commercial community. Anti-social behaviour, though lower in severity than violent crime, rose sharply compared to the UK average, potentially reflecting seasonal factors such as the low outdoor activity typical of winter months. The relatively low rates of property crime—shoplifting, for instance, was 48% below the UK average—suggests that the area's built-up nature and commercial focus may not be driving the same levels of retail-related crime as larger urban centres. This mix of crime types, while not alarmingly high, points to a need for targeted strategies that address the specific challenges of a coastal residential area during the winter months.

February 2026 saw a sharp 84.6% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 26 to 48 incidents. This surge, which places the category 43% above the UK average, may reflect seasonal factors or community tensions exacerbated by winter conditions. Meanwhile, other theft and other crime categories also showed dramatic increases: other theft rose by 183.3% (6 to 17) and other crime jumped by 166.7% (3 to 8). These spikes contrast with a 23.3% decrease in violence and sexual offences, though the latter category still accounts for 37.9% of all crimes—over double the share of any other category. The crime mix reveals a striking imbalance, with violent crimes dominating the landscape despite a slight month-on-month decline. For residents, the 84.6% rise in anti-social behaviour is a particularly salient figure, as it directly impacts local quality of life and may indicate underlying social pressures. This shift in crime mix highlights the need for targeted interventions in areas where anti-social behaviour is concentrated.

In February 2026, Canvey Island's crime rate rose by 3.5% compared to the previous month, moving from 5.9 to 6.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase aligns with a local trend of heightened anti-social behaviour and other crime categories. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 8 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents in a built-up coastal community. Over the course of the month, the crime rate translated to one reported crime for every 163 residents, a statistic that underscores the relative frequency of incidents within a population of 38,268. While this monthly exposure is consistent with the area's character as a residential and commercial hub, it remains 4.7% below the UK average. The population-scaled perspective highlights that local crime patterns, though not alarmingly high, warrant attention to specific categories like anti-social behaviour, which saw a 43% increase compared to the UK average. These figures, when viewed alongside the area's coastal and commuter demographics, suggest a need for targeted community engagement strategies to address emerging trends.