Purfleet-on-Thames Crime Rate

Purfleet-on-Thames currently features a crime rate of 86.8 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the UK national average of 91.7. This results in a safety score of 78/100, sitting just below the UK average safety benchmark. However, the recent trend direction is increasing, showing a 7.1% rise in crime year-over-year. As a high-activity urban settlement within Thurrock, Purfleet-on-Thames's crime profile reflects its busy residential and industrial character. Understanding the specific timing and types of offences is crucial for residents to manage their personal and property security effectively. The following data provides a detailed breakdown of crime patterns, monthly trends, and regional safety comparisons.

In Purfleet-on-Thames, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which constitute 39.3% of all reports, equivalent to 34.1 crimes per 1,000 residents. Vehicle crime is the second most common issue, making up 16.9% of reports, followed by criminal damage and arson at 10.7%. These figures indicate that while interpersonal offences are the most frequent, both vehicle-related theft and property-related damage are significant challenges in this urban settlement.

Property-related crime is a persistent consideration for the community, with an overall property crime rate of 32.6 per 1,000 people. This encompasses 79 vehicle crimes, 28 incidents of other theft, and 9 reported burglaries. Additionally, criminal damage and arson accounted for 50 reports. For Purfleet-on-Thames residents, the combined volume of vehicle theft and criminal damage suggests that property security remains important. While burglary accounts for only 1.9% of total crime, the broader spectrum of property offences, combined with a 7.1% increase in overall crime, highlights a growing risk that should be managed with effective home security measures, particularly as vehicle crime remains a key concern.

The crime trend in Purfleet-on-Thames is currently increasing, with a notable 7.1% rise year-over-year. Analysis of the monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows a relatively consistent upward movement with some fluctuations. The year began with a crime rate of 6.2 per 1,000 in December, dipping to 4.3 in February.

A significant increase occurred in the summer, with the crime rate reaching its highest point of 10.8 in July 2025. Following this peak, the rate generally trended downwards, ending at 6.2 in November. This pattern suggests that while there was a significant spike in activity during the summer months, the overall annual outlook reflects a sustained increase in reported offences. For residents, these statistics indicate that the area may require a higher level of vigilance regarding personal and property safety compared to previous years.

How To Keep Safe in Purfleet-on-Thames

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crimes in Purfleet-on-Thames, particularly in high-traffic urban areas. Staying aware and following practical safety tips can help residents stay safe.

1. Stay Alert in Busy Areas: When walking through Purfleet-on-Thames's central urban and industrial districts, remain aware of your surroundings. Avoid using mobile phones or headphones, which can distract you from potential risks.
2. Stick to Well-Lit Routes: When walking at night, use main roads and well-lit pedestrian paths. Avoid taking shortcuts through unlit parks or industrial areas, even if they seem faster.
3. Secure Your Vehicle: Given that vehicle crime accounts for 67% of night-time offences, always ensure your car is locked and that no valuables are left on display. Use secure parking facilities whenever possible.
4. Protect Your Property: With burglary being a consistent threat, ensure all entry points to your home are reinforced. Consider a proactive security system that can detect and deter intruders at your property boundary.
5. Report Suspicious Activity: If you witness criminal damage or unusual behaviour in residential areas, report it to the authorities. Community reporting helps the police allocate resources to the areas that need them most.

Crime in Purfleet-on-Thames follows distinct temporal patterns. Morning and afternoon hours are dominated by theft-related offences, which account for 31% and 43% of crimes in those periods, respectively. This correlates with daily activity in local commercial and industrial areas. As the day progresses into the evening, the focus shifts toward "other" crime types, which make up 44% of offences between 6pm and midnight.

The night-time period (12am - 6am) sees a significant shift in crime type, with vehicle crime becoming the most prominent at an extraordinary 67% of all reports. Burglary also remains a factor throughout the day but shows its highest relative concentrations during the afternoon (9%) and evening (6%). These patterns suggest that while theft is a daytime concern, vehicle-related offences are exceptionally high under the cover of darkness, requiring extreme vigilance and secure parking for both residents and visitors.

Purfleet-on-Thames sits as a typical urban settlement within the Thurrock region, and its crime statistics reflect this position. When compared to nearby Aveley, which has a similar crime rate of 87.5 per 1,000, Purfleet-on-Thames is very much in line with its immediate neighbours. It reports a lower crime rate than Chafford Hundred and West Thurrock (107.4) but is more active than Stone in Dartford (61.0). It is notably safer than central Dartford, which has a higher rate of 102.8. This data illustrates a clear trend: Purfleet-on-Thames offers a balanced urban environment with a safety profile that is typical for its surrounding communities. For those considering the region, Purfleet-on-Thames provides a good mix of urban convenience and a safety profile that is competitive with its neighbours.

In Purfleet-on-Thames, where the property crime rate is 32.6 per 1,000 residents and overall crime is increasing by 7.1%, traditional security measures are often not enough. Standard CCTV and DIY alarms are largely reactive, meaning they only record a crime or notify you after a break-in has already occurred. In a high-activity environment, this delay can be the difference between a prevented crime and a successful burglary.

scOS provides a proactive security operating system that uses AI to monitor your property's perimeter in real-time. Instead of waiting for a sensor to trip, scOS identifies potential threats—such as unauthorised individuals or vehicles with cloned plates—at the boundary. The system can then autonomously respond by activating lights or audible warnings, deterring the criminal before they reach your home. For Purfleet-on-Thames homeowners, this boundary-based protection is essential for staying ahead of opportunistic theft and vehicle crime. By moving from reactive recording to proactive AI-driven prevention, you can ensure your property is a difficult target, forcing criminals to move on.