South Woodham Ferrers Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2026, South Woodham Ferrers maintained a crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents, 50% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure places the built-up area well within the safety benchmarks of similar commuter towns in the East of England. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 46.3% of all incidents (25 cases), though this rate (1.6 per 1,000) was 36% below the UK average. Shoplifting followed with 25.9% of incidents (14 cases), but its rate (0.9 per 1,000) was 58% above the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), a discrepancy that may reflect the area’s proximity to retail corridors within Chelmsford. Public order offences and anti-social behaviour both contributed 7.4% of incidents (4 cases each), though these rates were 29% and 68% below UK averages respectively, suggesting effective community engagement in maintaining public spaces. Seasonal factors likely played a role in the crime profile, with January’s post-holiday period and shorter daylight hours potentially influencing both retail theft and violent crime patterns. The area’s low crime rate compared to national averages could be attributed to its suburban character, limited nightlife, and strong local policing presence, though further analysis would be needed to confirm these connections.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift occurred in shoplifting, which rose by 180% from 5 to 14 incidents. This surge, occurring during January’s post-holiday period, may partly reflect reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours, which could create opportunities for opportunistic theft. Meanwhile, drugs-related crimes fell by 75%, dropping from 4 to 1, a decline consistent with seasonal patterns where colder weather and fewer social gatherings may limit drug-related activity. Violent crimes remained the most common category, accounting for 46.3% of all incidents, though they were 36% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences. Shoplifting’s rate (0.9 per 1,000) was 58% above the UK average (0.6 per 1,000), a disparity that highlights the area’s unique retail environment compared to national trends. Residents might find the sharp increase in shoplifting particularly noteworthy, given its potential impact on local businesses.

South Woodham Ferrers recorded 54 crimes in January 2026, maintaining the same crime rate (3.4 per 1,000 residents) as December 2025 despite a 2% overall decline. This stability contrasts with the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, highlighting the area’s persistent safety advantage. Locally, daily crime activity averaged 2 incidents per day, a figure that aligns with the built-up area’s relatively low population density and limited commercial hubs. Over the course of the month, one crime was reported for every 297 residents, a ratio that underscores the community’s low exposure to criminal activity compared to national benchmarks. This monthly exposure statistic, when contextualised against the area’s 16,056 residents, suggests that most households experience minimal direct impact from crime. The consistency in crime rates between months may reflect the area’s stable demographic profile and established community policing efforts, though seasonal factors like post-holiday lulls could also contribute to the pattern.