Southend Crime Rate

Southend is an exceptionally safe urban settlement located within West Berkshire, featuring a remarkably low crime rate of 23.1 per 1,000 people. This figure is well below the UK national average of 91.7, contributing to an outstanding safety score of 95/100. When compared to the UK average safety score of 79/100, Southend ranks among the most secure areas in the country. Furthermore, the area has experienced a significant 34.0% decrease in reported crime year-over-year, indicating a strong positive trend in local security. This combination of a low baseline crime rate and a sharply declining trend makes Southend a highly desirable and peaceful location for residents and families alike.

Southend maintains an exceptionally low crime rate, with the top three categories being violence and sexual offences (32.3%), burglary (16.1%), and criminal damage and arson (12.9%). Although violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, the total count is low at just 10 incidents over the year. Property-related crime is a key focus for local safety, with an overall property crime rate of 9.7 per 1,000 residents. This includes burglary, other theft, and vehicle crime. Burglary alone accounts for 5 incidents, which is significant given the small total crime volume. For homeowners, this means that while the area is statistically very safe, the risk of property-related offences is the most tangible concern. The combined total of theft and criminal damage further emphasizes the importance of basic home and boundary security to maintain the high levels of safety currently enjoyed by the community.

The crime trend in Southend is notably positive, with a 34.0% decrease in reported incidents over the last year. This significant reduction reflects an improving safety environment. Monthly data from 2025 shows that crime rates fluctuated at a very low level, with most months recording between 0.8 and 3.0 crimes per 1,000 people. There was a slight peak in January (4.5 per 1,000), but this quickly subsided, with the rate dropping back to 0.8 by May and August. The year concluded with a rate of 2.2 in November. This overall downward trajectory, starting from an already low baseline, suggests that Southend is maintaining its status as a highly secure settlement. For residents, this trend provides strong reassurance that the area remains a safe place to live and that local security remains a high priority.

How To Keep Safe in Southend

The most common crime type in Southend is violence and sexual offences, though the actual volume is very low. To maintain personal safety, it is always advisable to be aware of your surroundings, particularly when walking alone at night. Stick to well-lit areas and let someone know your plans if you are out late. Since burglary is the second most common crime, ensuring your home is physically secure is essential. Double-check that all windows and doors are locked when you leave the house or go to bed. Consider installing motion-sensor lighting around the perimeter of your home to deter opportunistic intruders. Additionally, keep valuable items out of sight from ground-floor windows to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Engaging with local community groups or neighbourhood watch schemes can also help keep the area safe by fostering a culture of mutual vigilance and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities promptly.

Crime in Southend shows distinct variations depending on the time of day. Morning hours (6am - 12pm) are largely characterised by theft-related offences, which make up 40% of incidents. This trend continues into the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), where theft (39%) and burglary (37%) are the primary concerns. As the day transitions into the evening (6pm - 12am), burglary remains significant at 35%, while other crimes, including anti-social behaviour, become more prominent. The night-time period (12am - 6am) sees the highest relative frequency of burglary, accounting for 44% of all recorded crimes. Vehicle crime also peaks during the night at 17%. These patterns suggest that property-related offences are most likely to occur when residents are either asleep or away from their homes during the day. Understanding these timings can help residents implement more effective security routines, such as ensuring all locks are engaged before retiring for the night.

In the local context, Southend is part of a very high-safety region. Its crime rate of 23.1 per 1,000 is comparable to nearby Bradfield, which recorded 20.1. It is slightly more active than very small neighbouring settlements such as Tutts Clump, Beenham, and Stanford Dingley, all of which reported a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000. For those looking at the West Berkshire area, Southend offers a highly secure environment that significantly outperforms both regional and national averages. The consistent low-crime data across these neighbouring communities highlights the overall peaceful nature of this rural and semi-rural part of the county.

With a property crime rate of 9.7 per 1,000, Southend is a low-risk environment, yet property-related offences like burglary and theft remain the primary concerns for homeowners. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV, are reactive—they simply record footage of a crime that has already happened. In a quiet and safe area like Southend, the most effective strategy is proactive protection. The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to stop crimes before they occur. By using intelligent boundary detection, scOS monitors all cameras simultaneously to identify potential intruders at the edge of your property. If a threat is detected, the system can autonomously activate deterrents like lights or speakers to scare off the intruder. This proactive approach is far more effective at preventing the few burglary incidents that do occur in the area, providing a level of security that goes beyond mere recording and offers true peace of mind for residents.