South Woodham Ferrers Crime Overview
South Woodham Ferrers is among the top 10 safest small towns in Essex, and is the 152nd most dangerous overall out of Essex's 319 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in South Woodham Ferrers in 2020 was 47 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Essex's overall crime rate, coming in 65% lower than the Essex rate of 78 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, South Woodham Ferrers is the 354th safest small town, and the 3,384th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In September 2020, South Woodham Ferrers was the worst small town in Essex for bicycle theft, with 4 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.25 per 1,000 inhabitants. June 2020 was also a bad month for South Woodham Ferrers residents, when it was Essex's most dangerous small town for other crime, recording 6 crimes at a rate of 0.38 per 1,000 residents. South Woodham Ferrers recorded 3 reports of possession of weapons during April 2020, making its crime rate of 0.19 the worst small town for possession of weapons in Essex that month.
The most common crimes in South Woodham Ferrers are violence and sexual offences, with 362 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 23. This is 20% lower than 2019's figure of 434 offences and a difference of 4.50 from 2019's crime rate of 27. South Woodham Ferrers's least common crime is robbery, with 4 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 50% from 2019's figure of 6 crimes.
Compare South Woodham Ferrers to other towns and cities
See how South Woodham Ferrers shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how South Woodham Ferrers and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
South Woodham Ferrers Crime Map
Crime in South Woodham Ferrers Compared To Essex
Summary of Crimes in South Woodham Ferrers This Year
| South Woodham Ferrers | Essex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 289 | 18.09 | 49,414 | 26.76 | 48% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 16 | 1.00 | 1,867 | 1.01 | 1.0% safer |
| Burglary | 42 | 2.63 | 7,121 | 3.86 | 47% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 64 | 4.01 | 14,037 | 7.60 | 90% safer |
| Drugs | 35 | 2.19 | 6,452 | 3.49 | 59% safer |
| Other Crime | 22 | 1.38 | 3,205 | 1.74 | 26% safer |
| Other Theft | 42 | 2.63 | 9,427 | 5.10 | 94% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 7 | 0.44 | 1,196 | 0.65 | 48% safer |
| Public Order | 62 | 3.88 | 15,093 | 8.17 | 111% safer |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.25 | 1,227 | 0.66 | 164% safer |
| Shoplifting | 50 | 3.13 | 7,118 | 3.85 | 23% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 4 | 0.25 | 992 | 0.54 | 116% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 42 | 2.63 | 10,550 | 5.71 | 117% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 362 | 22.66 | 65,394 | 35.41 | 56% safer |
South Woodham Ferrers Compared to Nearby Small Towns
| Small Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Springfield | 667 | 31.76 | 48% safer |
| Hawkwell | 415 | 32.90 | 43% safer |
| Wivenhoe | 264 | 33.21 | 42% safer |
| Hockley | 354 | 35.56 | 32% safer |
| Stanway | 409 | 38.09 | 24% safer |
| South Woodham Ferrers | 752 | 47.06 | - |
| Saffron Walden | 828 | 47.66 | 1.3% more dangerous |
| Brightlingsea | 413 | 47.74 | 1.4% more dangerous |
| Tiptree | 521 | 56.51 | 17% more dangerous |
| Frinton and Walton | 1,116 | 57.16 | 18% more dangerous |
| Great Dunmow | 605 | 58.55 | 20% more dangerous |
Crime Over Time in South Woodham Ferrers
View crime percentage over time forRecent Crimes in South Woodham Ferrers
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near The Withywindle | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near The Withywindle | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Public order | On or near Queen Elizabeth Way | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Queen Elizabeth Way | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Bulbecks Walk | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Bulbecks Walk | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Meriadoc Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Finchland View | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Kings Way | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Reeves Way | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Shoplifting | On or near Knight Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Knight Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Nelson Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Other theft | On or near Standen Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Woodham Halt | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Public order | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Fremantle Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Brunel Way | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Parking Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| November 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Cornish Grove | Unable to prosecute suspect |
South Woodham Ferrers Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 15 | 15 | 11 | 18 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 0.38 | 1.2 | 0.69 | 1.0 | Getting worse |
| Burglary | 2.8 | 5 | 3.8 | 2.6 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 3.2 | 5 | 6 | 4.0 | Safer |
| Drugs | 0.69 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 2.2 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.4 | 0.69 | 0.94 | 1.4 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 2.2 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 2.6 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.19 | 0.25 | 0.56 | 0.44 | Getting worse |
| Public Order | 3.8 | 3.8 | 5 | 3.9 | Safer |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.50 | 0.06 | 0.38 | 0.25 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 3.1 | Getting worse |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 0.25 | 0.19 | 0.06 | 0.25 | Getting worse |
| Vehicle Crime | 2.3 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.6 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 15 | 17 | 27 | 23 | Getting worse |
Changes In South Woodham Ferrers's Crime Rates Over Time
Offences in South Woodham Ferrers's Green Spaces
We only display green spaces in South Woodham Ferrers that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2020.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Gardens | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | 0 | 0.26 |
Comparing South Woodham Ferrers to the UK's Major Cities
| Small Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| South Woodham Ferrers | 47.06 | - |
| Barnet | 67.71 | 30% more dangerous |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 39% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 83.22 | 43% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 45% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 45% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 52% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 54% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 56% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 65% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 66% more dangerous |
Crime in South Woodham Ferrers's Neighbourhoods
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Woodham Ferrers North | 450 | 56 | First |
| South Woodham Ferrers South | 302 | 38 | Second |
Crime in South Woodham Ferrers During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in South Woodham Ferrers change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in May, when South Woodham Ferrers saw a 600% increase in drugs. South Woodham Ferrers saw a large fall in criminal damage and arson during August, when it fell by 88% compared to August in 2019.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -13% | +43% | +7% | +256% | +93% | - | +26% | +52% | +457% | +136% |
| Bicycle Theft | - | - | - | - | -25% | - | - | +100% | - | - |
| Burglary | +100% | -75% | - | -50% | - | +67% | -50% | - | -86% | -33% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -56% | - | -75% | -38% | -17% | -88% | -14% | -60% | - | -40% |
| Drugs | - | +300% | +600% | +50% | +400% | - | -29% | - | +50% | -50% |
| Other Crime | - | - | +100% | +500% | - | -33% | +100% | - | -50% | - |
| Other Theft | -78% | +33% | -60% | +50% | -25% | -17% | -75% | -60% | -25% | -71% |
| Possession of Weapons | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Order | -77% | -29% | -71% | -20% | +33% | -17% | +100% | +250% | - | +50% |
| Robbery | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shoplifting | - | -33% | +100% | - | -20% | +500% | - | -57% | +400% | +500% |
| Vehicle Crime | -73% | - | - | -67% | -25% | +50% | +100% | -50% | -25% | - |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -60% | -26% | -5% | -40% | +30% | +7% | -6% | -28% | +5% | +28% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in South Woodham Ferrers
What police force serves South Woodham Ferrers?
South Woodham Ferrers's local territorial police force is the Essex Police.How dangerous is South Woodham Ferrers?
South Woodham Ferrers is among the top 10 safest small towns in Essex.What is South Woodham Ferrers's most common crime?
The most common crimes in South Woodham Ferrers are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in South Woodham Ferrers?
South Woodham Ferrers's least common crime is robbery (inc. mugging).Last updated: 31 Dec 2021