Wickham Bishops Crime Rate

Wickham Bishops, an affluent village in the Maldon district of Essex, is one of the safest settlements in the region, boasting a safety score of 94/100. The area's overall crime rate stands at 22.7 per 1,000 people, which is significantly lower than the UK national average of 93.1. Wickham Bishops has also seen a decreasing trend in crime, with a 5.9% reduction in reported incidents over the last year. These statistics place the village among the most secure communities in the county. This analysis provides a detailed breakdown of crime types, temporal patterns, and local context to help the 2,111 residents understand their exceptionally safe environment.

Crime Breakdown in Wickham Bishops

Wickham Bishops is a remarkably safe community, with violence and sexual offences being the most frequently reported crime type at 35.4% of the total, or 8.1 per 1,000 residents. Unusually for such a small settlement, vehicle crime is the second most common crime at 20.8%, followed by anti-social behaviour at 12.5%. For residents, these figures highlight a specific need to focus on car security and property protection.

The total property crime rate in Wickham Bishops is just 8.5 per 1,000 people. This encompasses burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft. Vehicle crime is a particularly high component of this total, with a rate of 4.7 per 1,000. Burglary accounts for 4.2% of total crime, with a rate of 0.9 per 1,000. The high proportion of vehicle crime at night (76%) suggests that car security is the most significant property-related risk for local homeowners. Maintaining a secure property perimeter and ensuring that vehicles are parked safely are the most relevant areas for prevention efforts.

Crime Trends in Wickham Bishops

Wickham Bishops has seen a slight downward trend in reported crime, with a year-over-year decrease of 5.9%. This reduction reinforces the area's standing as one of the safest in Essex. Monthly data shows that the crime rate remained low throughout much of the year, often staying below 2.0 per 1,000 residents between November 2024 and May 2025.

There were slight increases in activity during the summer months, with the rate peaking at 3.8 per 1,000 in August 2025. However, this was followed by a return to even lower levels in the autumn, with October recording just 1.0. These minor fluctuations are common in stable village communities and do not detract from the overall positive trend. For residents, this data provides reassurance that Wickham Bishops remains a consistently safe place to live, with a security profile that continues to improve over time. Consistent community vigilance will help maintain this positive environment.

How To Keep Safe in Wickham Bishops

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crime type in Wickham Bishops, followed closely by vehicle crime. Maintaining a high level of car security and property awareness is key to staying safe.

1. Prioritise vehicle security, especially overnight. Ensure cars are locked, windows are fully closed, and no valuables are left inside, as vehicle crime is the dominant night-time threat.
2. Use a locked garage or a well-lit driveway if possible. If parking on the street, choose areas that are overlooked by multiple houses to benefit from natural surveillance.
3. Use timers for internal and external lights when you are away from home, particularly in the afternoon when burglary risk is statistically higher.
4. Keep all gates and side entrances to your property locked to prevent unauthorised access to rear gardens and outbuildings.
5. Stay connected with the local community through Neighbourhood Watch or local social media groups to keep informed about any unusual activity or suspicious individuals in the area.

Crime Patterns in Wickham Bishops

Criminal activity in Wickham Bishops follows a distinct temporal pattern, with different risks emerging at various times of the day. During the morning and afternoon, theft and vehicle crime are the primary concerns. In the afternoon, burglary risk also peaks, accounting for 25% of incidents during this period. This suggests that opportunistic property crimes are most common when residents are likely to be away from their homes.

As the day transitions into the evening and night, the nature of crime changes significantly. The evening (6pm-12am) is characterised by a high proportion of vehicle crime (53%) and burglary (17%). During the night (12am-6am), vehicle crime becomes the overwhelmingly dominant threat, representing a substantial 76% of all recorded activity. This is the highest proportion for any crime type at any time in the area. This data highlights a clear need for residents to prioritise vehicle security during the overnight hours when the village is quietest and cars are most vulnerable.

In the local context of the Maldon district, Wickham Bishops is a highly secure residential choice. It is safer than Great Totham, which has a crime rate of 23.4 per 1,000, and significantly more secure than the nearby town of Witham at 81.6. While it is slightly more active than the ultra-low-crime neighbours of Langford and Little Totham—both of which reported zero crimes in the latest period—it remains incredibly safe by any other standard. Its position as a larger, more desirable village naturally draws a bit more activity than the smallest hamlets, but it still maintains a safety profile far superior to the national average. For those seeking a village atmosphere with top-tier security, it is one of the best options in Essex.

With a property crime rate of just 8.5 per 1,000 and a decreasing trend, Wickham Bishops is a very low-risk area. However, the exceptionally high proportion of vehicle crime at night (76% of night-time incidents) suggests that residents should not be complacent about car security. Traditional security systems are often reactive, providing footage of a crime only after it has occurred.

scOS offers a proactive alternative by using AI-powered boundary detection to prevent crime before it happens. In an area where vehicle crime is the primary night-time threat, scOS’s multi-camera intelligence is an invaluable asset. It monitors your property perimeter 24/7, identifying suspicious behaviour near vehicles or outbuildings and distinguishing it from normal household activity. If a threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger deterrents like lights or speakers, alerting the intruder that they have been spotted and destroying their cover. This proactive approach is the most effective way to maintain the high safety standards residents of Wickham Bishops expect.