South Woodham Ferrers Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

South Woodham Ferrers, a built-up area within Chelmsford, recorded a crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents in February 2024—a figure 56.3% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences were the dominant category, accounting for 24% of all reported crimes, followed by vehicle crime (22%) and other theft (12%). This profile aligns with the area’s character as a relatively low-crime, suburban environment, where property-related offences and violent crime are less prevalent than in larger urban centres. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may contribute to the subdued levels of shoplifting and public order offences, which fell to 8% and 10% of total crimes, respectively. However, the spike in vehicle crime raises questions about potential local factors, such as increased traffic congestion or targeted thefts from parked vehicles. The area’s performance relative to the UK average underscores the effectiveness of local policing and community initiatives, which have consistently kept crime rates below national benchmarks. The rate of violence and sexual offences (0.8 per 1,000) is 68% below the UK average, reflecting the area’s safety in this category. Despite the month-on-month increase in vehicle crime, the overall stability of other categories reinforces South Woodham Ferrers’ position as a low-risk area within the UK’s broader crime profile.

February 2024 saw a dramatic 450% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 2 to 11 incidents—a sharp contrast to the previous month’s figures. This surge, which places vehicle crime at 0.7 per 1,000 residents (59% above the UK average), suggests a potential shift in criminal activity, possibly linked to seasonal factors such as increased vehicle usage during colder months or changes in parking patterns. Meanwhile, shoplifting dropped by 69.2%, from 13 to 4 cases, indicating a possible seasonal lull in retail theft, consistent with the area’s pre-spring activity trends. Violence and sexual offences, the most common crime category, fell by 25% to 12 incidents, a rate of 0.8 per 1,000 (68% below the UK average), highlighting the area’s ongoing effectiveness in managing violent crime. Other theft and burglary both saw 200% increases, pointing to a broader trend in property-related offences. These fluctuations, while significant, remain within the context of South Woodham Ferrers’ overall low-crime environment, which continues to outperform national averages in most categories.

South Woodham Ferrers recorded a crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents in February 2024, marking an 11.1% increase from the previous month’s rate of 2.8 per 1,000. This rise, though modest, contrasts with the area’s consistent performance relative to the UK average, which stood at 7.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day in February, a figure that reflects its overall low-crime profile. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 321 residents, highlighting the relatively sparse distribution of incidents in a population of 16,056. This monthly exposure rate underscores the area’s safety compared to the UK average, where the equivalent figure would be significantly higher. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that, despite the month-on-month increase, the area remains well below the national benchmark, suggesting that local factors—such as community engagement or policing strategies—may contribute to sustained low crime levels. However, the rise in vehicle crime and burglary raises questions about potential seasonal or situational shifts that warrant further analysis.