New crime data reveals the most dangerous Essex areas, raising concerns about safety and childrens well being.
Essex Police recorded nearly 150,000 of those crimes. They split Essex into smaller areas for tracking crime. These areas mostly match local councils. Crime rates help compare different areas fairly.
Rates show crimes per 1,000 residents. Harlow has the highest crime rate, with 105 per 1,000. That means about one crime for every nine people. Southend-on-Sea is next, with 98 crimes per 1,000 folks. Basildon follows with 94.
Maldon is the safest. Its rate is 50 crimes per 1,000 residents. This is one crime for every twenty people.
Police data to December 2024 shows some good news. Overall crime fell 13.5 percent. This excludes fraud reports.
Violence against people dropped almost 12 percent. Sexual offenses decreased 9 percent. Weapon possession fell over 20 percent. Harlow saw the biggest crime drop. This was across all Essex districts, in the past year.
Other areas with drops include Stansted Airport. Brentwood, Chelmsford and Castle Point also improved. Some Harlow residents are worried. High-profile crimes made them concerned. One man thought of moving. He wanted his child to be safer.
He lived in Harlow for 28 years. Harlow is part of a special project. It aims to reduce crime in certain areas. Its goal is to make the area safe long-term. The Stow area is the focus in Essex.
A police chief said they want Stow to be safer. He said residents don’t always feel safe there. The project should change things. Police will patrol more, stopping crime. They will arrest violent offenders and drug dealers.
A local leader said they want to protect communities. Renewing neighborhoods is also a goal. The project will address crime and antisocial acts. They will crack down on gangs. They will resolve long-standing issues. More police and safety officers will patrol. This will reassure residents. They want residents proud to live, work, and shop there.