Great Oakley Crime Rate

Great Oakley is a notably safe urban settlement, featuring an overall crime rate of 24.2 per 1,000 residents. This is exceptionally low when compared to the UK average of 91.6, earning the area a high safety score of 88/100. Furthermore, the crime rate is on a significant downward trajectory, having decreased by 37.5% year-over-year. Property crime is also minimal at 6.8 per 1,000, which is less than a quarter of the national average of 32.2. These figures suggest Great Oakley is an increasingly secure environment for its residents. The following report details the crime breakdown and safety trends for the period between January and September 2025.

In Great Oakley, the crime profile is dominated by violence and sexual offences, which constitute 60.0% of all recorded incidents. This is followed by other theft at 16.0% and public order offences at 12.0%. Property crime as a whole, which encompasses burglary, vehicle crime, and theft, sits at a rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents. This is remarkably low compared to the UK average of 32.2. Specifically, the area recorded only one burglary and one vehicle crime during the data period. For local homeowners, this indicates that while the overall safety score is high, theft remains the most likely property-related concern. The low volume of criminal damage and arson (4.0%) further reflects the quiet, residential nature of the settlement, where major property threats are statistically rare.

The trend data for Great Oakley is exceptionally positive, showing a 37.5% decrease in total crime year-over-year. Monthly analysis for 2025 reveals that the crime rate remained consistently low, with several months recording rates between 1.0 and 2.9 per 1,000. There were slight increases in May and July, where the rate rose to 5.8, but these remained well below national levels. The fact that the area recorded no crimes in several months (April, June) further highlights its status as a low-crime settlement. For residents, this sustained downward trend suggests that local policing and community safety initiatives are highly effective, making Great Oakley an increasingly safe place to reside.

How To Keep Safe in Great Oakley

As violence and sexual offences represent the highest percentage of local crime, personal safety and community awareness are the most important factors for residents to consider.

1. Ensure residential streets and driveways are well-lit, as good visibility is a primary deterrent for both opportunistic theft and anti-social behaviour.
2. Given the night-time peak in vehicle crime, always park in a garage if available or use a well-lit driveway with a physical security device like a steering lock.
3. Establish a neighbourhood communication group to share alerts about suspicious activity, which is highly effective in smaller communities like Great Oakley.
4. Keep high-value items out of sight from ground-floor windows to reduce the temptation for "other theft," which is the second most common crime type.
5. Secure all garden gates and side entrances with heavy-duty padlocks to prevent unauthorised access to the rear of your property.

In Great Oakley, crime patterns fluctuate significantly throughout the day. Theft-related offences are heavily concentrated during the daylight hours, making up 72% of morning crimes and 75% of afternoon incidents. This likely reflects opportunistic activity during periods of higher movement. As night falls, the nature of crime shifts; vehicle crime rises from just 3% in the afternoon to a significant 37% during the night (12am-6am). Burglary also follows a nocturnal trend, peaking at 24% in the early hours. This data suggests that while the daytime is mostly affected by low-level theft, the night-time presents a more specific risk to physical assets like cars and homes, necessitating robust overnight security measures.

In the local context, Great Oakley is one of the safer settlements in the Tendring area. With a rate of 24.2 per 1,000, it is more secure than nearby Thorpe-le-Soken (34.8) and drastically safer than the major port town of Harwich, which has a crime rate of 95.9. While it cannot match the zero-crime statistics reported in the smaller rural parishes of Wix and Parkeston, Great Oakley offers a highly attractive safety profile for those seeking a balance of community life and low crime risk. Its strong decreasing trend further sets it apart as an improving area within the regional landscape.

Great Oakley's low property crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 is encouraging, but the 37% spike in vehicle crime during the night hours (12am-6am) suggests that certain vulnerabilities remain. Traditional security, such as Ring or Nest cameras, often only provides footage after a crime has been committed. For residents who want to maintain Great Oakley's high safety standards, proactive protection is the logical next step. The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to stop crime before it occurs. By monitoring property boundaries with multi-camera intelligence, scOS can identify suspicious activity or unauthorised vehicles instantly. Instead of just recording a burglary or car theft, scOS autonomously intervenes with lights and audio deterrents, destroying the element of surprise. In a quiet area like Great Oakley, where professional-grade security is a strong deterrent, scOS ensures that your home remains a hard target, protecting your assets more effectively than reactive DIY systems.