Grays is the third most dangerous major towns in Essex, and is the 32nd most dangerous overall out of Essex's 315 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Grays in 2021 was 101 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Essex's overall crime rate, coming in 19% higher than the Essex rate of 81 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Grays is the 33rd most dangerous major town, and the 575th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In October 2021, Grays had the worst crime rate in Essex for vehicle crime, with 106 crimes reported and a crime rate of 1.4 per 1,000 inhabitants. October 2020 was also a bad month for Grays residents, when it was Essex's most dangerous area for shoplifting, recording 80 crimes at a rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents. Grays recorded 25 reports of robbery during January 2016, making its crime rate of 0.33 the worst for robbery in Essex that month.
The most common crimes in Grays are violence and sexual offences, with 3,162 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 42. This is 9% higher than 2020's figure of 2,873 offences and a difference of 3.82 from 2020's crime rate of 38. Grays's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 56 offences recorded in 2021, a decrease of 29% from 2020's figure of 72 crimes.
Third Most Dangerous
Major Towns, Essex
30% higher, regional crime rate
East of England
24% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Grays is 30% higher than the East of England and 24% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Grays | |
| East of England | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Grays represent the time frame between May 2019 and April 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 02 Jun, 2022
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 02 Jun, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 7,617 |
| 2020 | 96 | 7,270 |
| 2019 | 113 | 8,518 |
| 2018 | 102 | 7,695 |
| 2017 | 92 | 6,952 |
| 2016 | 82 | 6,190 |
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| Grays | Essex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 1,868 | 24.71 | 38,402 | 20.80 | 16% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 63 | 0.83 | 1,650 | 0.89 | 7% safer |
| Burglary | 275 | 3.64 | 5,840 | 3.16 | 13% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 662 | 8.76 | 13,534 | 7.33 | 16% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 251 | 3.32 | 5,362 | 2.90 | 13% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 164 | 2.17 | 3,180 | 1.72 | 21% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 535 | 7.08 | 10,250 | 5.55 | 22% more dangerous |
| Possession of Weapons | 56 | 0.74 | 1,182 | 0.64 | 14% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 737 | 9.75 | 16,425 | 8.89 | 9% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 90 | 1.19 | 1,250 | 0.68 | 43% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 622 | 8.23 | 7,095 | 3.84 | 53% more dangerous |
| Theft From the Person | 105 | 1.39 | 1,038 | 0.56 | 60% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 895 | 11.84 | 10,154 | 5.50 | 54% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 3,162 | 41.83 | 72,865 | 39.46 | 6% more dangerous |
| Major Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | 9,883 | 83.22 | 21% safer |
| Colchester | 13,278 | 96.13 | 4.8% safer |
| Grays | 7,617 | 100.76 | - |
| Harlow | 10,087 | 115.69 | 13% more dangerous |
| Basildon | 14,679 | 124.74 | 19% more dangerous |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Crammavill Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Supermarket | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Castle Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Shopping Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Parking Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Other theft | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Burglary | On or near Mayfields | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Wingfield | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Wallace Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Mary Rose Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Grantham Way | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Thames Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Other theft | On or near Seally Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Blackmore Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| April 2022 | Public order | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Kendal | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Blackshots Lane | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Grovelands Way | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| April 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Wingrove Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 25 | 25 | 33 | 25 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 0.83 | Safer |
| Burglary | 6 | 4.9 | 4.1 | 3.6 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 8 | 10 | 9 | 9 | Safer |
| Drugs | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.3 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.2 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.77 | 1.1 | 0.95 | 0.74 | Safer |
| Public Order | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 1.5 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 1.2 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 18 | 17 | 10 | 8 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.4 | Getting worse |
| Vehicle Crime | 14 | 14 | 10 | 12 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 30 | 39 | 38 | 42 | Getting worse |
| Major Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Barnet | 67.08 | 50% safer |
| Croydon | 82.48 | 22% safer |
| Sheffield | 90.05 | 12% safer |
| Bristol | 90.52 | 11% safer |
| Grays | 100.76 | - |
| Coventry | 102.24 | 1.4% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 111.59 | 10% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 123.06 | 18% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 129.64 | 22% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 132.28 | 24% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 150.94 | 33% more dangerous |
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chafford & North Stifford | 401 | 49 | Sixth |
| Grays Chafford Gorges & Orsett Road | 990 | 106 | Third |
| Grays Town | 1,505 | 149 | Second |
| Little Thurrock South | 513 | 67 | Fourth |
| Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside | 3,106 | 203 | First |
| South Chafford | 469 | 57 | Fifth |
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Chafford & North Stifford (105) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (645) |
| Bicycle Theft | Little Thurrock South (1) | Grays Town (22) |
| Burglary | Chafford & North Stifford (14) | Grays Town (47) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | South Chafford (38) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (271) |
| Drugs | South Chafford (9) | Grays Chafford Gorges & Orsett Road (67) |
| Other Crime | Little Thurrock South (9) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (70) |
| Other Theft | Chafford & North Stifford (25) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (228) |
| Possession of Weapons | Chafford & North Stifford (2) | Grays Town (18) |
| Public Order | Chafford & North Stifford (28) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (242) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | South Chafford (2) | Grays Town (34) |
| Shoplifting | Chafford & North Stifford (2) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (437) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Chafford & North Stifford (1) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (68) |
| Vehicle Crime | Chafford & North Stifford (54) | Purfleet, South Stifford & Lakeside (604) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Chafford & North Stifford (187) | Grays Town (667) |
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Grays change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in November, when Grays saw a 267% increase in theft from the person. Grays saw a large fall in shoplifting during May, when it fell by 85% compared to May in 2019. Rates of criminal damage and arson and vehicle crime both fell year-on-year for every month during Grays's lockdown.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | - | +68% | +57% | +45% | +13% | +5% | +22% | +35% | +69% | +76% |
| Bicycle Theft | -17% | +40% | -14% | -30% | -38% | -11% | +50% | -9% | -20% | +50% |
| Burglary | -41% | - | -51% | -23% | -33% | -30% | +29% | +43% | +28% | -28% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -17% | -5% | -50% | -17% | -5% | -8% | -12% | -24% | +2% | -29% |
| Drugs | -23% | +100% | +25% | +6% | -16% | +23% | -5% | -9% | -26% | -24% |
| Other Crime | +9% | - | +64% | +6% | -33% | +25% | +50% | -16% | +25% | -46% |
| Other Theft | -12% | -80% | -61% | +29% | -47% | +18% | +41% | +23% | -17% | -28% |
| Possession of Weapons | -85% | -77% | +40% | -14% | +100% | +75% | +150% | -17% | +100% | -78% |
| Public Order | +2% | -20% | -23% | -31% | -21% | +70% | -20% | -16% | -42% | -17% |
| Robbery | -71% | -80% | -81% | -14% | - | +160% | +50% | +88% | -61% | -30% |
| Shoplifting | -30% | -69% | -85% | -68% | -46% | -9% | -17% | -26% | -55% | -42% |
| Theft From the Person | -9% | - | -43% | -20% | +100% | +133% | -20% | +22% | +267% | -44% |
| Vehicle Crime | -49% | -45% | -55% | -49% | -32% | -26% | -23% | +2% | -27% | -26% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | +8% | -22% | -22% | -27% | -20% | +7% | +11% | -1% | +15% | -6% |
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