Brightlingsea Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Brightlingsea’s crime profile in February 2026 was dominated by violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 54.8% of all reported crimes. This category, with a rate of 2.6 per 1,000 residents, was 12% above the UK average for the same offence type. The overall crime rate of 4.8 per 1,000 residents marked a 25% reduction compared to the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, a figure that underscores the area’s relative safety. However, the prominence of violent crime suggests a need to explore local factors that may contribute to this trend. As a coastal built-up area within Tendring, Brightlingsea’s proximity to both urban and rural environments could influence crime patterns, with potential links to tourism, seasonal fluctuations, or local community dynamics. The winter month of February, characterised by low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull, may have played a role in the distribution of crimes, though the high proportion of violent offences suggests that factors beyond seasonality are at play. Other notable crime types included other theft (11.9% of total crimes) and criminal damage and arson (7.1% of total crimes), with the latter performing below the UK average by 35%. This contrast in performance across crime categories highlights the need for targeted analysis of specific local conditions that may influence different types of criminal activity.

February 2026 saw significant shifts in Brightlingsea’s crime profile, with drug-related incidents doubling from one to two cases. This increase, though small in absolute terms, highlights a potential emerging trend that may warrant closer monitoring. Concurrently, public order and shoplifting offences also rose by 100%, suggesting a possible link to seasonal factors such as the pre-spring lull or increased social activity during winter months. In contrast, vehicle crime and other theft decreased by 50% and 16.7% respectively, indicating a shift in criminal focus away from property-related offences. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, contributing 54.8% of all crimes, and were 12% above the UK average for this category. This discrepancy, combined with the significant underperformance of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting relative to UK rates, points to a unique local dynamic that may reflect Brightlingsea’s specific social and geographical context.

Brightlingsea’s crime rate in February 2026 stood at 4.8 per 1,000 residents, a 2.4% decrease from the previous month’s 4.9 per 1,000. This slight decline suggests a stabilising trend in local crime patterns, though the overall rate remains significantly lower than the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day over the 28-day period, a figure that aligns with the town’s smaller population and lower density compared to major urban centres. When considering monthly exposure, the data shows that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 209 residents in February, a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the local population. This figure is particularly relevant for residents, as it provides a tangible sense of how frequently crime impacts the community on a monthly basis. The comparison to the UK average underscores the area’s relative safety, though the breakdown of specific crime types reveals nuances in local challenges that warrant further attention.