Brightlingsea Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Brightlingsea's crime rate in May 2023 stood at 3.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 57.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This marked safety advantage is reflected across multiple categories, with violence and sexual offences (2.4 per 1,000) 14% below the UK average for that category, and criminal damage and arson (0.3 per 1,000) 52% below the national rate. The area's crime profile in May was dominated by violent incidents, which accounted for 70% of all recorded crimes (21 out of 30). This contrasts with property crimes, which made up 23.3% of the total (7 incidents). The seasonal context of May—characterised by bank holidays, longer evenings, and increased outdoor drinking and socialising—may partly explain the elevated proportion of violent offences. While coastal areas often see spikes in theft from the person during peak tourist seasons, Brightlingsea's data shows no such pattern, with vehicle crime and other theft categories actually declining compared to the UK average. This suggests that local factors, such as community policing initiatives or the town's relatively small population (8,782 residents), may contribute to the area's consistently low crime rates despite the month-on-month increase in violent incidents. The breakdown also highlights the rarity of certain offences, with burglary and drugs offences remaining at just 0.1 per 1,000—a figure 68% and 52% below the UK averages respectively. These findings illustrate the combination of seasonal activity patterns and the unique characteristics of this built-up area within Tendring.

May 2023 saw a 61.5% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 13 to 21 incidents. This category, which made up 70% of all crimes, remains 14% below the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000. Burglary and drugs offences both doubled from zero to one incident each, though these remain well below UK averages (0.3 and 0.2 per 1,000 respectively). Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 50% (from 2 to 1), and other theft decreased by 33.3% (from 3 to 2). The shift in crime mix shows a marked increase in violent incidents compared to property crimes, which dropped to 7 (23.3%) from 21 (70%) in April. This suggests a seasonal shift in criminal activity, consistent with the longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising typical of May in this coastal area.

Brightlingsea's crime rate in May 2023 rose by 11.4% compared to April, moving from 3.1 to 3.4 per 1,000 residents. Despite this increase, the area remains significantly safer than the UK average, which stood at 8.0 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the local figure of one reported crime per day provides a tangible measure of activity, though this must be contextualised within the area's population. Over the course of May, one crime occurred for every 293 residents, a statistic that underscores the low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. When considering the population-scaled perspective, the 8,782 residents of Brightlingsea experience a crime rate that is 57.5% below the national average, highlighting the area's relative safety despite the month-on-month increase. This comparison reinforces the importance of viewing local trends within the broader UK context, as the absolute numbers remain far below national benchmarks.