Tilbury Crime Rate

Tilbury currently features a crime rate of 139.0 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly higher than the UK national average of 91.7. This results in a safety score of 67/100, sitting notably below the UK average safety benchmark of 79/100. Despite these figures, the recent trend direction is stable, showing a minor year-over-year increase of 1.7%. As a major high-activity urban settlement and port town, Tilbury's crime profile reflects its dynamic 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 Tilbury, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which constitute 34.8% of all reports, equivalent to 48.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. Criminal damage and arson is the second most common issue, making up 13.0% of reports, followed closely by anti-social behaviour at 13.0%. These figures indicate that while interpersonal offences are the most frequent, both property-related damage and community-level disruption are significant challenges in this urban settlement.

Property-related crime is a major consideration for the community, with an overall property crime rate of 57.1 per 1,000 people. This encompasses 216 vehicle crimes, 123 incidents of other theft, and 117 shoplifting offences. Additionally, burglary represented 81 incidents, a rate of 5.5 per 1,000 residents. For Tilbury residents and business owners, the combined volume of vehicle theft, shoplifting, and criminal damage suggests that property security should be an extremely high priority. While burglary accounts for 3.9% of total crime, the broader spectrum of property offences highlights a high risk of opportunistic theft and vandalism across the area's residential and commercial zones.

The crime trend in Tilbury is currently classified as stable, with a minor year-over-year increase of 1.7%. Analysis of the monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows a relatively consistent rate with some fluctuations. The year began with a crime rate of 11.3 per 1,000 in December, dipping slightly in January.

A noticeable increase occurred in the spring and summer, with the crime rate reaching its highest point of 14.5 in July 2025. Following this summer peak, the rate fluctuated between 10.3 and 12.2 for the remainder of the year, ending at 12.2 in November. This pattern suggests that while there was a significant spike in activity during the summer months, the overall annual outlook remains consistent. For residents, these statistics indicate that while the annual trend is stable, the summer period may require a higher level of vigilance regarding personal and property safety.

How To Keep Safe in Tilbury

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crimes in Tilbury, 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 Tilbury's central urban and port 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 industrial areas or along the docks, even if they seem faster.
3. Secure Your Vehicle: Given that vehicle crime accounts for 53% 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 Tilbury follows distinct temporal patterns. Morning and afternoon hours are dominated by theft-related offences, which account for 28% and 34% of crimes in those periods, respectively. This correlates with peak activity in commercial and industrial zones. As the day progresses into the evening, the focus shifts toward "other" crime types, which make up 54% 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 53% of all reports. Burglary also remains a factor throughout the day but shows a slight increase in concentration during the afternoon (17%) and evening (12%). These patterns suggest that while commercial-related theft is a daytime issue, residential and vehicle-related offences are more likely to occur under the cover of darkness or when properties are unattended during the day.

Tilbury sits as a high-activity urban settlement within the wider region, and its crime statistics reflect this position. When compared to nearby Chadwell St Mary, which has a lower crime rate of 105.3 per 1,000, Tilbury is notably more active. It also reports a higher crime rate than Grays (99.4) and nearby Northfleet (104.4) or Gravesend (115.5). This data illustrates a clear trend: as a major port and industrial hub, Tilbury has a more concentrated crime profile than its more residential neighbours. For those considering the region, Tilbury offers significant employment and transport opportunities, but these urban benefits come with a more active crime profile than many of the surrounding communities.

In Tilbury, where the property crime rate is 57.1 per 1,000 residents, 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 Tilbury 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.