Thundersley and South Benfleet Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile for Thundersley and South Benfleet in February 2026 reveals a stark contrast to national trends, with the area’s overall crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents placing it 39.1% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This discrepancy is most pronounced in violent crimes, which accounted for 40.9% of all reported incidents. Violence and sexual offences, at 1.6 per 1,000, were 31% below the UK average, suggesting a relatively stable social environment despite the cold winter conditions. The seasonal context of February—a low point for outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may partly explain the subdued levels of property crime, which made up 39.1% of the total. Shoplifting (15.1% of crimes) and criminal damage (9.7%) were the most common property-related offences, but both remained well below UK averages. This pattern aligns with the area’s likely character as a semi-rural commuter hub, where retail and residential zones are separated, potentially reducing opportunities for opportunistic theft. The low rate of anti-social behaviour (5.4% of crimes), 78% below the UK average, further reinforces the perception of a community with strong local norms and lower conflict levels. However, the winter months may have shifted social dynamics indoors, with public order offences (6.5% of crimes) rising slightly compared to other months.

February 2026 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories, with robbery cases surging by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents) compared to January, marking the most significant single-month increase in the area’s recorded history. This spike, though still low in absolute terms, contrasts sharply with the 54.5% decrease in anti-social behaviour (from 22 to 10 cases), which may reflect seasonal shifts in community activity or local enforcement efforts. The most notable deviation from UK averages occurred in violence and sexual offences, which were 31% below the national rate, while shoplifting remained 3% above the UK average, possibly linked to the area’s retail presence. A resident might find the 39.1% below-average violent crime rate particularly noteworthy, as it suggests a level of safety that diverges from the UK norm. The category of 'other crime' also rose sharply by 166.7%, from 3 to 8 incidents, though this increase remains within the context of the area’s overall low crime environment. These shifts underscore the complexity of local crime patterns, where seasonal factors and community-specific dynamics can drive divergent outcomes compared to national trends.

The crime rate in Thundersley and South Benfleet rose by 4.3% in February 2026, from 3.7 to 3.9 per 1,000 residents, marking a slight upward trend despite remaining well below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly 7 crimes per day in February—a figure that, while modest, highlights the continuous nature of local policing challenges. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 260 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average, which is not provided here. This statistic contextualises the area’s safety in terms of population density, with the 48,269 residents experiencing a crime frequency that is both stable and low. The comparison to the previous month also reveals a nuanced picture: while the overall rate increased, the breakdown of crime types shows a mixed impact. For instance, the 54.5% decline in drugs-related offences (from 11 to 5) may indicate temporary disruptions in illicit networks, while the 200% rise in robbery suggests a specific vulnerability in February. These changes, though small in absolute numbers, reflect the dynamic interplay between local conditions and national crime trends, with the area’s unique demographic and geographic profile likely influencing its distinct pattern of criminal activity.