Redbridge Crime Rate

Redbridge Crime Overview

Redbridge presents a stable safety profile for its 321,231 residents. The overall crime rate for the period of Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 stands at 94.9 per 1,000 people, which is slightly higher than the UK average of 91.6. This performance is reflected in a safety score of 78/100, which is just below the national average of 79. The crime trend in the borough is currently classified as stable, with a marginal 1.8% change year-over-year. This consistency suggests that Redbridge remains a secure local authority, though it faces the typical challenges of an outer London borough, with property-related offences being more prevalent than the national average. The following data provides a comprehensive breakdown of crime types and seasonal patterns to help residents and visitors understand the local safety landscape.

About Redbridge

Redbridge is a diverse and predominantly suburban London borough, characterized by its extensive green spaces and high-quality residential areas. It serves as a significant commuter hub with excellent transport links into Central London, which naturally influences its transient population. The borough features a mix of vibrant commercial centres, such as Ilford, and quieter residential neighbourhoods, creating a varied crime landscape.

Demographically, Redbridge is home to a large and growing population, with high density in its urban cores. This density, combined with the borough's role as a retail destination, contributes to its crime statistics, particularly in categories like shoplifting and vehicle crime. The presence of major transport hubs can also attract opportunistic criminal activity. Economically, the borough has a mix of affluent areas and pockets of deprivation, a factor often linked to anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Understanding these characteristics helps explain Redbridge's crime rate and safety score, as it balances the challenges of an outer London borough with a strong community feel.

Crime Breakdown in Redbridge

In the Redbridge Local Authority District, the most common crime type is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for 8,886 reported incidents, or 29.2% of the total crime volume. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 20.6% and vehicle crime at 9.2%. These figures are reflective of the urban-suburban mix of the borough, where personal offences and community-level disruption are more frequently recorded.

Property crime in Redbridge, which includes burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, and other theft, occurs at a rate of 37.4 per 1,000 people. This is higher than the UK average property crime rate of 32.2. Specifically, vehicle crime is a notable concern at 8.7 per 1,000 residents, while burglary sits at 3.4 per 1,000. Shoplifting and other theft combined make up over 14% of local offences, highlighting the impact of the borough's commercial activity. For residents and homeowners, these statistics suggest that while Redbridge is generally safe, property-related risks, particularly vehicle crime and theft, require proactive security measures to mitigate opportunistic activity.

Crime Trends in Redbridge

The crime trend in Redbridge is currently stable, with only a 1.8% fluctuation in the total number of offences year-over-year. An analysis of the monthly data for 2025 reveals a consistent pattern of activity throughout the year. Crime rates began the year at 7.4 per 1,000 in January and saw a slight decrease in February to 6.8.

Following this, the rate saw a steady increase through the spring and summer, reaching a peak of 8.6 per 1,000 in July and again in October. This pattern is common in urban areas as increased outdoor activity during the warmer months and the transition into shorter days in the autumn often correlate with higher incident reporting. The year ended with a rate of 7.9 in December. This consistency suggests that while there are minor seasonal variations, the underlying crime environment in Redbridge remains steady, highlighting the importance of year-round security awareness.

Regional Comparison

When compared to its East London and Essex neighbours, Redbridge stands out as a relatively secure borough. It often reports lower crime rates than immediately adjacent areas such as Barking and Dagenham, Waltham Forest, and Newham, which frequently experience higher crime volumes due to their more intensive urban cores. Redbridge also compares favourably to other nearby boroughs like Hackney and Tower Hamlets. Even when compared to Havering to the east, Redbridge's safety score remains competitive. This makes the borough a preferred choice for those seeking the amenities of London living while prioritising a more settled and secure environment for residential life.

Proactive Security in Redbridge

With a property crime rate of 37.4 per 1,000, Redbridge residents face a higher-than-average risk of burglary, theft, and vehicle crime. Traditional security measures, such as basic alarms or standard CCTV, are often reactive—they record a crime as it happens or notify you after the intruder has already gained entry. In a busy borough like Redbridge, the goal of security should be total prevention.

The scOS AI-powered home security operating system shifts the focus from recording to prevention. By utilising multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your property boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they reach your door. Unlike standard DIY cameras that may alert you to a delivery or a passing animal, scOS learns your family's routines and only alerts on real threats. Features such as autonomous light activation and speaker engagement can destroy the element of surprise, often causing opportunistic criminals to move on before a crime is committed. For Redbridge homeowners, investing in proactive AI protection ensures that your home is defended by technology that stops crime before it starts.

How To Keep Safe in Redbridge

The highest crime category in Redbridge is violence and sexual offences, which often includes a wide range of incidents from domestic disputes to public altercations. To enhance your personal safety across the borough, consider the following advice:

1. Stay Aware in Busy Areas: When visiting commercial hubs like Ilford or using major transport interchanges, remain observant of your surroundings and stick to well-lit, populated routes, especially during evening hours.
2. Prioritize Vehicle Security: With vehicle crime being a top 3 crime type, always ensure your car is locked, use a steering lock, and avoid leaving any valuables on display.
3. Utilise Personal Safety Apps: Consider using reputable safety apps that allow you to share your location with trusted contacts when travelling alone across the borough.
4. Secure Your Home Environment: With property crime higher than average, ensuring your home is well-defended with modern security measures like proactive AI detection can deter opportunistic activity.
5. Community Engagement: Join local Neighbourhood Watch schemes to stay informed about specific issues in your part of Redbridge and foster a collective approach to safety.