Great Dunmow Crime Rate

Great Dunmow is a safe and well-established market town with an overall crime rate of 68.8 per 1,000 people. This figure is significantly lower than the UK national average of 93.1, contributing to an impressive safety score of 83/100. The crime trend in the area is currently stable, showing a minor year-over-year decrease of 1.3%. This suggests that Great Dunmow maintains a secure environment for its 9,084 residents. While the figures are generally low, understanding the specific breakdown of local incidents helps residents and newcomers alike to better appreciate the safety landscape of this Essex settlement.

Crime in Great Dunmow

Crime in Great Dunmow is primarily characterised by violence and sexual offences, which account for 39.8% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 27.4 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour, both recorded at 7.5 per 1,000 people. Together, these three categories represent the most significant concerns for the local community.

Property crime in the area, which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft, stands at a combined rate of 23.5 per 1,000 people. While this is lower than the UK average of 32.9, it remains a focal point for residents. Vehicle crime is notably prominent within this category, making up 10.9% of total crime. Burglary rates are relatively low at 2.4 per 1,000, yet for homeowners, the cumulative impact of property-related offences necessitates a proactive approach to domestic and vehicle security to maintain the area's high safety standards.

Crime Trends in Great Dunmow

The crime trend in Great Dunmow is currently classified as stable, with a slight year-over-year decrease of 1.3%. This suggests that local law enforcement and community safety initiatives are effectively maintaining a consistent level of security.

Data from the past year shows some monthly fluctuations. The crime rate peaked in April 2025 at 6.9 incidents per 1,000 people, followed by another high point in January 2025 at 6.5. Conversely, the safest month was June 2025, when the rate dropped significantly to 4.0. The latter half of 2025 has seen rates hovering between 4.8 and 6.4, showing a relatively predictable pattern. For residents, this stability is reassuring, although the occasional spikes in spring and early winter suggest that seasonal vigilance remains important. The overall downward nudge in the annual figure is a positive indicator for the town's long-term safety trajectory.

How To Keep Safe in Great Dunmow

The most prevalent crime type in Great Dunmow is violence and sexual offences. While many of these incidents may be domestic or occur between known individuals, general personal safety remains a priority for the community.

To enhance your personal safety, try to stick to well-lit, familiar routes when walking alone at night. Using personal safety apps that share your location with trusted contacts can provide an extra layer of security. In social settings, remain aware of your surroundings and keep your drinks attended to.

For property and vehicle safety, always ensure your car is locked and no valuables are left on display, as vehicle crime is the highest property-related offence here. Installing a visible, high-quality security system can act as a strong deterrent. Finally, engaging with local community watch schemes can help keep you informed about any recent suspicious activity in your specific neighbourhood.

Analysis of crime timings in Great Dunmow reveals distinct patterns throughout the day. Vehicle crime is most intense during the night hours (12am - 6am), accounting for 57% of all incidents in that period. This suggests that vehicles parked overnight are the primary targets for opportunistic theft.

During the morning and afternoon, theft-related offences are more frequent, peaking at 37% in the afternoon. This aligns with increased commercial activity and footfall in the town centre. Burglary also shows a slight uptick during the afternoon (17%), likely when homes are left unattended during the workday. Evening hours see a shift towards 'other' crime categories, which often includes anti-social behaviour, as social activity increases. Understanding these temporal trends allows residents to be more vigilant during specific high-risk windows for different crime types.

In the local regional context, Great Dunmow serves as a central hub compared to its smaller neighbours. Barnston maintains an exceptional record with 0.0 crimes per 1,000 people, while Little Dunmow (27.9) and Stebbing (33.4) also report significantly lower crime rates. Great Easton sits at 31.0 per 1,000. While Great Dunmow's rate of 68.8 is higher than these rural villages, it remains well below the national average, reflecting its status as a more populated urban settlement with greater commercial activity and transport links.

With a property crime rate of 23.5 per 1,000 residents in Great Dunmow, homeowners should look beyond traditional security measures. Standard CCTV and doorbell cameras are often reactive, providing footage only after a crime has been committed. In an area where vehicle crime is the most prevalent property offence, proactive protection is essential.

The scOS operating system offers a sophisticated alternative by using AI to detect threats at your property's boundary. Rather than just recording a vehicle being tampered with, scOS can identify unauthorised presence in real-time and trigger autonomous responses, such as activating lights or speakers, to deter the intruder immediately. This preventative approach is particularly effective against the '60-second' decision-making process used by many opportunistic criminals. By implementing a system that understands routines and recognises familiar faces, you ensure that your security is intelligent, reducing false alarms while providing robust, professional-grade protection for your home and vehicles.