Rochford Crime Overview

Rochford is among the top 5 most dangerous small towns in Essex, and is the 33rd most dangerous overall out of Essex's 319 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Rochford in 2020 was 95 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Essex's overall crime rate, coming in 18% higher than the Essex rate of 78 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Rochford is the 72nd most dangerous small town, and the 597th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In February 2019, Rochford was the worst small town in Essex for possession of weapons, with 4 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.42 per 1,000 inhabitants. May 2018 was also a bad month for Rochford residents, when it was Essex's most dangerous small town for robbery, recording 2 crimes at a rate of 0.21 per 1,000 residents. Rochford recorded 11 reports of burglary during September 2018, making its crime rate of 1.1 the worst small town for burglary in Essex that month.

The most common crimes in Rochford are violence and sexual offences, with 479 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 50. This is 10% higher than 2019's figure of 431 offences and a difference of 4.99 from 2019's crime rate of 45. Rochford's least common crime is theft from the person, with 2 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 100% from 2019's figure of 4 crimes.

Compare Rochford to other towns and cities

See how Rochford shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Rochford and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.

Rochford Crime Map

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Crime in Rochford Compared To Essex

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Summary of Crimes in Rochford This Year

 RochfordEssex 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour26727.7749,41426.763.6% more dangerous
Bicycle Theft60.621,8671.0163% safer
Burglary373.857,1213.860.26% safer
Criminal Damage and Arson10711.1314,0377.6032% more dangerous
Drugs323.336,4523.494.8% safer
Other Crime252.603,2051.7433% more dangerous
Other Theft555.729,4275.1011% more dangerous
Possession of Weapons121.251,1960.6548% more dangerous
Public Order10310.7115,0938.1724% more dangerous
Robbery40.421,2270.6657% safer
Shoplifting141.467,1183.85164% safer
Theft From the Person20.219920.54157% safer
Vehicle Crime373.8510,5505.7148% safer
Violence and Sexual Offences47949.8165,39435.4129% more dangerous

Rochford Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Halstead87071.5433% safer
Maldon1,06972.9730% safer
Chigwell1,10078.7921% safer
Myland1,27384.6012% safer
Epping1,06986.3410% safer
Rochford91394.95-
Waltham Abbey2,312102.898% more dangerous
Harwich2,027107.0111% more dangerous
Tilbury1,721121.8822% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Rochford

View crime percentage over time for

Recent Crimes in Rochford

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Vaughan CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Vaughan CloseFurther action is not in the public interest
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Vaughan CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Rochefort DriveUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Rochefort DriveUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Sovereign CloseOffender given a caution
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Sovereign CloseOffender given a caution
November 2021Other theftOn or near Park/Open SpaceInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Weir Pond RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Rose WayInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Spencer GardensInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Pollards CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Other theftOn or near Sports/Recreation AreaInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Other theftOn or near Fleethall RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Malting Villas RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Malting Villas RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near GreenwaysUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Back LaneInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Back LaneInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Oak RoadUnable to prosecute suspect

Rochford Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour30332528Safer
Bicycle Theft1.61.61.10.62Safer
Burglary9114.63.8Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson14151411Safer
Drugs1.12.12.33.3Getting worse
Other Crime2.52.62.32.6Getting worse
Other Theft6876Safer
Possession of Weapons0.731.40.831.2Getting worse
Public Order5.081111Getting worse
Robbery (inc. mugging)0.620.731.10.42Safer
Shoplifting2.62.51.61.5Safer
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)0.210.830.420.21Safer
Vehicle Crime8873.8Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences25434550Getting worse

Changes In Rochford's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing Rochford to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
Barnet67.7140% safer
Coventry77.4123% safer
Croydon83.2214% safer
Sheffield85.8111% safer
Bristol86.2110% safer
Rochford94.95-
Leicester97.442.6% more dangerous
Birmingham102.878% more dangerous
Liverpool107.2811% more dangerous
Bradford133.0229% more dangerous
Leeds137.1031% more dangerous

Crime in Rochford's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Rochford Outer & Hawkwell East66883First

Crime in Rochford During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Rochford change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in May, when Rochford saw a 600% increase in drugs. Rochford saw a large fall in burglary during March, when it fell by 83% compared to March in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour-50%-14%+37%+24%+44%+88%-26%-11%+189%+115%
Bicycle Theft---+100%------
Burglary-83%-50%+400%--33%-50%+400%--75%+150%
Criminal Damage and Arson-79%-76%-50%-31%-33%+100%-45%+180%-9%-
Drugs+100%-+600%-----+75%+50%
Other Crime--33%--33%--+100%-67%-+50%
Other Theft-63%+20%-40%+25%-43%+14%--67%-83%-
Possession of Weapons----------
Public Order--17%-+43%-8%-31%-11%-29%+33%-17%
Robbery--------67%--
Shoplifting--------67%--
Vehicle Crime-33%-50%--67%---60%+200%-33%-67%
Violence and Sexual Offences-15%+11%+10%-5%-31%+18%+52%-24%+36%+6%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Rochford

What police force serves Rochford?
Rochford's local territorial police force is the Essex Police.
How dangerous is Rochford?
Rochford is among the top 5 most dangerous small towns in Essex.
What is Rochford's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Rochford are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in Rochford?
Rochford's least common crime is theft from the person (inc. pickpocketing).

Last updated: 31 Dec 2021