Abridge Crime Rate

Crime statistics for Abridge, within Epping Forest, reveal a crime rate of 70.4 per 1,000 residents between January 2025 and December 2025. This is slightly below the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000 residents, suggesting a generally safer environment than many other areas. However, the recent trend shows a concerning increase of 13.5% year-on-year, indicating a need for greater attention to safety measures. Understanding the nature and distribution of crime within Abridge is crucial for residents and authorities alike, allowing for targeted interventions and proactive prevention strategies. This overview aims to provide a clear picture of the current crime situation and offer insights into potential safety improvements.

The crime landscape in Abridge is characterised by a concerning prevalence of violence and sexual offences, accounting for 34.3% of recorded incidents. Vehicle crime represents another significant challenge, contributing 15.4% of all crimes. Other theft constitutes 9.1%, highlighting the need for increased vigilance against petty crime. Property crime, encompassing burglary, theft, and criminal damage, accounts for 27.5% of incidents overall. While burglary itself represents only 7% of total crimes, it remains a key concern for residents. The incidence of anti-social behaviour, drugs-related offences, and public order incidents also contribute to the overall crime picture, demonstrating a need for a multifaceted approach to community safety.

The crime rate in Abridge has been steadily increasing, with a significant 13.5% rise year-on-year. This upward trend is reflected in monthly data, with peaks observed in February (4.9 per 1,000), March (5.9 per 1,000), May (8.9 per 1,000), August (9.4 per 1,000), November (8.4 per 1,000), and December (6.4 per 1,000). While some months, like September (3.0 per 1,000), show a temporary decrease, the overall trajectory points towards a concerning escalation in criminal activity, warranting focused intervention and community engagement.

How To Keep Safe in Abridge

Given the prevalence of violence and sexual offences, it’s crucial to be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone at night. Secure your vehicles properly to mitigate vehicle crime, utilising alarms and steering wheel locks. Be mindful of your belongings to reduce the risk of theft. Ensure your home is well-lit and that valuables are kept out of sight. Consider joining or supporting local neighbourhood watch schemes to foster a sense of community and shared responsibility for safety. Finally, report any suspicious activity to the authorities promptly.

Throughout the day and night, crime patterns in Abridge fluctuate. Burglaries are most common during the morning (13%) and afternoon (24%), while vehicle crime peaks significantly during the night (65%). Theft tends to be concentrated during commercial hours, both in the afternoon (49%) and morning (42%). Violence and sexual offences are more prevalent during the evening (0%) and night (0%), however this is not directly correlated to any time period, suggesting an increased risk during those hours. This variation underscores the importance of targeted safety measures tailored to specific times of day.

Compared to its neighbours, Abridge exhibits a varied crime landscape. Theydon Bois has a notably lower crime rate of 42.6 per 1,000, suggesting a more peaceful environment. Loughton, however, experiences a considerably higher crime rate of 85.9 per 1,000, highlighting a potentially more challenging situation. Chigwell Row (56.0 per 1,000) and Chigwell (67.2 per 1,000) offer intermediate comparisons, indicating that Abridge's crime rate sits somewhere between these neighbouring areas. Examining these comparisons helps to contextualise Abridge's crime statistics and identify potential areas for improvement.

Traditional CCTV systems often provide a record of events after a crime has occurred. scOS, however, takes a proactive approach. Reading crime statistics is one thing; actively preventing threats at your property line is another. scOS, with its AI-powered threat detection, watches all cameras simultaneously, identifying potential risks – such as unfamiliar vehicles or individuals – at the property boundary. The DVLA vehicle verification feature instantly flags suspicious vehicles, while pattern learning recognises your family and deliveries, minimising false alarms. This element of surprise, created by autonomous responses like triggered lights and speaker announcements, often deters potential criminals. Most burglars decide within 60 seconds – scOS makes that decision easy for them: they move on.