Southend Crime Rate

Southend is one of the most secure urban settlements in the West Berkshire region, with an overall crime rate of 23.9 per 1,000 people for the period from January 2025 to December 2025. This rate is far below the UK national average of 91.6, earning the area an exceptional safety score of 95/100. Furthermore, the crime trend is moving in a very positive direction, with a significant 28.9% decrease in reported incidents year-over-year. For its 1,341 residents, Southend provides a peaceful and low-risk environment. However, understanding the specific types of crime that do occur—such as burglary and criminal damage—is essential for maintaining this high standard of safety. The following report details the crime breakdown, temporal patterns, and regional context for Southend.

In Southend, the crime landscape is primarily defined by violence and sexual offences, which account for 34.4% of all reports (8.2 per 1,000). This is followed by criminal damage and arson, burglary, and anti-social behaviour, each representing 12.5% of the local total. When considering property crime collectively—including burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and criminal damage—the rate is 9.0 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.2. However, the equal distribution of criminal damage and burglary as top-three concerns suggests that while the total volume of crime is low, residential property remains the primary focus of local criminal activity. For residents, this means that home security and protecting the physical exterior of properties are the most important practical considerations, despite the area's very high safety score.

The annual crime trend for Southend is exceptionally positive, showing a 28.9% decrease in total crime compared to the previous year. A month-by-month analysis of 2025 shows that the crime rate per 1,000 residents remained very low, never exceeding 4.5. The year began with its highest rate of 4.5 in January, followed by a steady period where the rate fluctuated between 0.8 and 3.0. Significant low points occurred in May, August, and October, all recording just 0.8 per 1,000. Because the total number of incidents in Southend is so small, these fluctuations represent a very low volume of actual crime. The overall downward trajectory confirms that Southend is not only one of the safest areas in the region but is also continuing to improve its safety profile, providing a very secure environment for its residents.

How To Keep Safe in Southend

The most common crime in Southend is violence and sexual offences, followed closely by property-related issues like burglary and criminal damage. Residents can take several proactive steps to maintain the area's excellent safety profile.

1. Secure Your Property Boundary: With burglary making up 12.5% of local crime, ensure that side gates are locked and that fences are in good condition to prevent easy access to the rear of your home.
2. Install Motion-Activated Lighting: Criminal damage and burglary often occur under the cover of darkness. Motion-triggered lights can expose potential intruders and act as a strong deterrent.
3. Be Aware of Your Surroundings: While Southend is very safe, staying alert when walking through the area, particularly after dark, is a sensible precaution against the most common crime types.
4. Lock All Entry Points: Many burglaries are opportunistic. Always ensure that windows and doors are fully secured, even if you are only leaving the house for a short period.
5. Engage with Neighbours: A close-knit community is a safer one. Sharing information about unusual activity can help prevent crime before it occurs and supports the local safety network.

Crime in Southend follows specific temporal patterns that residents should be aware of. During the morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft-related offences are the most common, accounting for 43% and 39% of incidents respectively. This suggests that opportunistic crimes occur most frequently during daylight hours when the area is active. However, the risk of burglary is present throughout the day and becomes particularly dominant at night. Between 12am and 6am, burglary accounts for a significant 53% of all reported incidents. In contrast, the proportion of theft drops to just 10% during these early morning hours. This data indicates that while daytime vigilance should focus on general theft, the most critical time for robust home security is overnight, when properties are most vulnerable to intrusion.

Southend is situated in a remarkably safe part of West Berkshire. It shares a low-crime profile with nearby Bradfield, which has a crime rate of 17.8 per 1,000. In contrast, several very small neighbouring hamlets—Tutts Clump, Beenham, and Stanford Dingley—all reported a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 people during this period. While Southend has slightly more activity than these zero-crime hamlets, it remains one of the safest urban settlements in the entire county. For those seeking a secure residential environment, Southend offers a level of safety that is significantly better than both the regional and national averages.

In Southend, where burglary and criminal damage are top-three concerns despite the low overall crime rate, residents should consider the benefits of proactive security. Traditional CCTV systems and smart doorbells are reactive; they record footage of a crime as it happens, which often fails to stop an intruder or prevent property damage. For a neighbourhood with a property crime rate of 9.0 per 1,000, prevention is the ultimate goal. The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to stop threats at the property boundary. Its multi-camera intelligence monitors all angles of your home simultaneously, identifying suspicious activity in real-time. If a potential intruder is detected, scOS can autonomously activate deterrents like lights and speakers, removing the element of surprise and deterring the criminal before they reach your home. By moving from reactive recording to proactive AI deterrence, Southend homeowners can ensure their property remains as safe as the statistics suggest, preventing crime rather than just witnessing it.