Saffron Walden is among the top 10 safest small towns in Essex, and is the 151st most dangerous overall out of Essex's 315 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Saffron Walden in 2021 was 47 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Essex's overall crime rate, coming in 74% lower than the Essex rate of 81 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Saffron Walden is the 299th safest small town, and the 3,656th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2021, Saffron Walden was the worst SmallTown.ToInlineText() in Essex for robbery, with 1 crime reported and a crime rate of 0.06 per 1,000 inhabitants. November 2021 was also a bad month for Saffron Walden residents, when it was Essex's most dangerous SmallTown.ToInlineText() for shoplifting, recording 10 crimes at a rate of 0.58 per 1,000 residents. Saffron Walden recorded 1 report of theft from the person during April 2021, making its crime rate of 0.06 the worst SmallTown.ToInlineText() for theft from the person in Essex that month.
The most common crimes in Saffron Walden are violence and sexual offences, with 356 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 20. This is 2.5% lower than 2020's figure of 365 offences and a difference of 0.52 from 2020's crime rate of 21. Saffron Walden's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 1 offence recorded in 2021, a decrease of 500% from 2020's figure of 6 crimes.
Top 10 Safest
Small Towns, Essex
51% lower, regional crime rate
East of England
56% lower, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Saffron Walden is 51% lower than the East of England and 56% lower than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Saffron Walden | |
| East of England | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Saffron Walden represent the time frame between April 2019 and March 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 11 May, 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: 11 May, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 47 | 812 |
| 2020 | 48 | 828 |
| 2019 | 55 | 958 |
| 2018 | 48 | 836 |
| 2017 | 44 | 765 |
| 2016 | 31 | 542 |
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| Saffron Walden | Essex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 204 | 11.74 | 38,402 | 20.80 | 77% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 9 | 0.52 | 1,650 | 0.89 | 71% safer |
| Burglary | 32 | 1.84 | 5,840 | 3.16 | 72% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 86 | 4.95 | 13,534 | 7.33 | 48% safer |
| Drugs | 27 | 1.55 | 5,362 | 2.90 | 87% safer |
| Other Crime | 12 | 0.69 | 3,180 | 1.72 | 149% safer |
| Other Theft | 62 | 3.57 | 10,249 | 5.55 | 55% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 1 | 0.06 | 1,182 | 0.64 | 967% safer |
| Public Order | 87 | 5.01 | 16,425 | 8.89 | 77% safer |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.40 | 1,250 | 0.68 | 70% safer |
| Shoplifting | 67 | 3.86 | 7,095 | 3.84 | 0.52% more dangerous |
| Theft From the Person | 10 | 0.58 | 1,038 | 0.56 | 3.4% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 56 | 3.22 | 10,154 | 5.50 | 71% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 356 | 20.49 | 72,864 | 39.46 | 93% safer |
| Small Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanway | 160 | 14.90 | 214% safer |
| Hawkwell | 401 | 31.79 | 47% safer |
| Hockley | 363 | 36.46 | 28% safer |
| Wivenhoe | 297 | 37.36 | 25% safer |
| Heybridge | 389 | 45.51 | 2.7% safer |
| Saffron Walden | 812 | 46.74 | - |
| Brightlingsea | 419 | 48.43 | 3.5% more dangerous |
| South Woodham Ferrers | 813 | 50.88 | 8% more dangerous |
| Buckhurst Hill | 698 | 59.24 | 21% more dangerous |
| Tiptree | 558 | 60.53 | 23% more dangerous |
| Frinton and Walton | 1,185 | 60.69 | 23% more dangerous |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Bicycle theft | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near The Spike | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Other crime | On or near Ozier Court | Further action is not in the public interest |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Braybrooke Gardens | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Mandeville Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Hollyhock Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Reddings Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near De Vigier Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Fairycroft Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Castle Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Braybrooke Gardens | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Petrol Station | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Harris Yard | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Laws Close | Further action is not in the public interest |
| March 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near De Vigier Avenue | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near The Spike | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Chalklands | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Butcher Row | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 14 | 15 | 18 | 12 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 0.35 | 0.40 | 0.35 | 0.52 | Getting worse |
| Burglary | 4.1 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 1.8 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5.0 | Safer |
| Drugs | 1.0 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 1.6 | Safer |
| Other Crime | 0.58 | 0.98 | 0.52 | 0.69 | Safer |
| Other Theft | 5 | 5 | 4.4 | 3.6 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.17 | 0.35 | 0.35 | 0.06 | Safer |
| Public Order | 4.4 | 4.5 | 3.9 | 5 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.06 | 0.17 | 0.29 | 0.40 | Getting worse |
| Shoplifting | 4.3 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 3.9 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.92 | 0.58 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 4.0 | 3.1 | 2.4 | 3.2 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 16 | 21 | 21 | 20 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Saffron Walden that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2021.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anglo-American Memorial Playing Fields | 3 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 3 | 2.0 |
| Bridge End Gardens | 3 | - | 1 | - | 3 | 3 | 1.2 |
| The Common | - | - | - | - | 4 | 0 | 0.71 |
| Small Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | 39.93 | 17% safer |
| Saffron Walden | 46.74 | - |
| Birmingham | 49.60 | 6% more dangerous |
| Barnet | 67.08 | 30% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 82.48 | 43% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 90.03 | 48% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 90.52 | 48% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 111.59 | 58% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 123.06 | 62% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 132.28 | 65% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 150.94 | 69% more dangerous |
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audley End, Ashdon & the Chesterfords | 206 | 28 | Second |
| Saffron Walden Town | 709 | 52 | First |
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Saffron Walden change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in September, when Saffron Walden saw a 400% increase in criminal damage and arson. Saffron Walden saw a large fall in other theft during April, when it fell by 89% compared to April in 2019.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -46% | +8% | +75% | +121% | +44% | +10% | +106% | - | +150% | +88% |
| Bicycle Theft | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Burglary | - | -86% | -14% | -85% | -88% | - | -43% | - | -67% | +200% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | +20% | -33% | -62% | +43% | - | -43% | +400% | -15% | -33% | +23% |
| Drugs | - | +67% | -50% | - | +20% | - | +50% | - | - | -67% |
| Other Crime | - | - | - | - | - | -50% | - | -67% | - | - |
| Other Theft | -17% | -89% | -67% | -17% | +20% | -25% | +83% | -27% | +50% | -9% |
| Possession of Weapons | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | -50% | - | - |
| Public Order | - | -50% | -56% | - | -30% | -57% | +88% | -50% | +25% | +50% |
| Shoplifting | - | -67% | -67% | -67% | -50% | -14% | +133% | -45% | -17% | +33% |
| Theft From the Person | +300% | - | - | - | -50% | - | - | -67% | -86% | - |
| Vehicle Crime | -43% | +33% | -75% | -40% | -67% | +50% | +67% | +25% | -75% | +100% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -14% | +29% | -50% | +38% | +32% | +33% | +67% | -25% | -53% | -4% |
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