Chigwell Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Chigwell’s built-up area recorded 76 crimes in December 2023, a rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents. This figure is 13.9% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000, reflecting a generally lower crime profile compared to the national context. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 40.8% of total incidents (31 cases), followed by vehicle crime (18.4%, 14 cases) and burglary (7.9%, 6 cases). The seasonal context of December—characterised by Christmas shopping, extended evenings, and potentially vacant homes during the holiday period—may have influenced these patterns. For instance, the higher incidence of vehicle crime could be linked to increased car usage during the festive shopping period or vulnerabilities in local parking infrastructure. Meanwhile, the relatively low rate of violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average may align with Chigwell’s character as a suburban area with lower population density and fewer late-night venues compared to major urban centres. The data also reveals a significant disparity in crime types: while vehicle crime is markedly higher than the UK average, other categories like anti-social behaviour and public order offences are lower. This suggests that local policing strategies or community characteristics may be effectively mitigating certain types of crime. The overall rate of 6.2 per 1,000 underscores that Chigwell remains a relatively safe area, though targeted interventions may still be necessary for specific issues like vehicle-related offences.

December 2023 saw sharp increases in certain crime categories. Other theft surged by 200%, rising from 2 to 6 incidents, while robbery and other crime each doubled from zero to one and one to two, respectively. This spike in theft-related crimes may partly explain the overall rise in the monthly rate. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 33.3%, and public order offences dropped by 28.6%, possibly reflecting seasonal shifts in community activity. Vehicle crime—14 incidents in total—remains 167% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000, a stark contrast to the 5% below UK average for violence and sexual offences. These divergent trends highlight the uneven nature of local crime patterns, with transport-related offences standing out as a persistent concern for residents.

In December 2023, Chigwell’s crime rate rose 5.6% from November’s 5.9 to 6.2 per 1,000 residents. This translates to roughly 2 crimes reported each day, a figure that contextualises the pace of activity in a built-up area of Epping Forest. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 161 residents, a monthly exposure that provides a tangible sense of scale for local residents. While the overall rate remains 13.9% below the UK average, the distribution of crime types reveals nuanced differences. The population context is critical: with 12,217 residents, the 76 total crimes equate to a manageable volume relative to the area’s size. This suggests that while crime is present, it is not concentrated compared to the broader UK context, though specific categories like vehicle crime stand out as exceptions.