Stansted Mountfitchet Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Stansted Mountfitchet's January 2026 crime rate of 4.0 per 1,000 residents placed it 41.2% below the UK average, a stark contrast to the national figure of 6.8. This overall low rate was driven by the dominance of violence and sexual offences (35% of all crimes), anti-social behaviour (12.5%), and shoplifting (10%). The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days—likely influenced these patterns, as outdoor crime typically declines during colder months. However, the data reveals a combination of local conditions and broader trends: while the area's rural character may contribute to lower property crime rates (such as burglary, which dropped by 75% year-on-year), the rise in anti-social behaviour and weapon possession highlights vulnerabilities in community safety frameworks. The 4.0 per 1,000 rate, though low, masks variations in specific categories. For instance, violence and sexual offences, though below the UK average, remain a significant portion of the local crime mix, potentially linked to the area's proximity to larger urban centres and the movement of transient populations. The low rate of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) may reflect the limited presence of commercial parking areas, whereas the 30% deficit in shoplifting compared to the UK average could be attributed to the area's smaller retail footprint. These findings suggest that while Stansted Mountfitchet benefits from a generally safe environment, targeted interventions in areas with rising anti-social behaviour and weapon possession may be necessary to maintain this status.

January 2026 marked a sharp rise in anti-social behaviour, which surged by 150% compared to December, with incidents increasing from 2 to 5. This spike, coupled with a 100% increase in shoplifting (from 2 to 4), signals a shift in crime patterns that may reflect seasonal dynamics. Possession of weapons rose by 100% to 3 incidents, a category where Stansted Mountfitchet's rate is 329% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This anomaly contrasts with the area's generally low crime profile and warrants scrutiny. Meanwhile, burglary and other theft saw significant declines—75% and 70% respectively—likely linked to reduced retail footfall during the post-holiday period. The violence and sexual offences category, at 1.4 per 1,000, remains 44% below the UK average, suggesting that while violent crime is not a major concern, targeted awareness in areas with higher foot traffic, such as local amenities, may be necessary.

Stansted Mountfitchet's crime rate in January 2026 dropped by 25.8% from 5.3 to 4.0 per 1,000 residents, continuing a downward trend observed in recent months. This places the area significantly below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, a gap that has widened over the past year. On a daily basis, the area recorded one crime per day in January, a figure that, while low, includes notable spikes in anti-social behaviour and weapon possession. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 253 residents—a statistic that, when contextualised against the local population of 10,108, underscores the area's relative safety. However, the monthly exposure metric does not account for seasonal fluctuations or localized patterns, such as the post-holiday lull in retail crime that may have shifted activity to other categories. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the overall rate is low, the absolute number of crimes in certain categories—such as violence and sexual offences—remains proportionally significant compared to the UK average, warranting closer attention to underlying factors.