South Woodham Ferrers Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

South Woodham Ferrers, a built-up area within Chelmsford, maintained a crime rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents in November 2024, a figure that is 60.5% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. This stark contrast with the national picture underscores the area’s relative safety, particularly in comparison to larger urban centres where crime rates are typically higher. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 54.2% of total incidents (26 cases), though this category remains 38% below the UK average. Shoplifting (12.5% of total) and vehicle crime (8.3%) followed, both significantly underperforming the national benchmark by 42% and 32% respectively. The seasonal context of November—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and shorter daylight hours—likely influenced these patterns, with reduced foot traffic in retail areas potentially contributing to the drop in shoplifting. However, the area’s violent crime rate, while lower than the UK average, suggests that local factors such as community policing and targeted interventions may play a role in maintaining this disparity. The overall crime profile reflects a suburban environment where low-level incidents dominate, with no major spikes in property crime or public order offences. This balance between routine and situational crime highlights the importance of ongoing local engagement to sustain current trends.

November 2024 saw a sharp 53.8% decrease in shoplifting incidents, dropping from 13 to 6 cases—a shift that may reflect the impact of Black Friday shopping patterns, with retailers potentially increasing security measures. Conversely, possession of weapons rose by 100% (from 0 to 1 incident), an outlier that warrants careful monitoring without overgeneralisation. The breakdown of crime types reveals that violence and sexual offences (54.2% of total) remain the most prevalent category, though they are 38% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This contrast with the national picture suggests that local factors, such as the area’s suburban character and community cohesion, may play a role in mitigating violent crime. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage both fell significantly—by 82% and 71.4% respectively—linked to the seasonal transition into winter, with fewer outdoor gatherings reducing opportunities for such offences.

South Woodham Ferrers recorded 48 crimes in November 2024, translating to a daily average of two crimes per day across its population of 16,056 residents. This equates to one reported crime for every 335 residents over the course of the month, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to local demographics. When compared to the previous month, the overall crime rate fell by 25.1% (from 4.0 to 3.0 per 1,000 residents), marking a sustained decline in reported incidents. This reduction aligns with broader patterns observed in similar suburban areas during late autumn, where seasonal factors such as shorter evenings and reduced foot traffic in commercial zones may contribute to lower crime rates. The population-scaled perspective further underscores that the area remains significantly safer than the UK average, with its monthly exposure to crime being lower than the national benchmark. This contrast highlights the effectiveness of local policing strategies and community engagement efforts in maintaining low-level crime outcomes.