Southend Is A Crime Hot Spot

More crimes are reported in Southend than any other area of Essex.

Latest figures from police.co.uk show the Central Ward, which contains the neighbourhoods of Victoria, Milton, Kursaal and Clifftown, is the worst area for muggings, violent crime and anti-social behaviour.

A table compiled by Essex security firm Precreate Solutions shows the number of violent crimes and anti-social behaviour is more than double that of the next worst wards.

Muggings are at least three times more likely than any other police ward in Essex.

Southend Central came top in almost every category of crime (see tables below) with 132 incidents of violent crime, 332 incidents of anti-social behaviour, 15 muggings, 35 burglaries and 29 incidents of vehicle crime in January alone.

Chief Insp David Colwell said ''The crime mapper tool enables our communities to have access to street-level data about crime. However, the information itself needs to be interpreted with care.

''Compared to other areas Southend Central does have more reported crime but it covers a huge area of Southend which includes densely populated residential wards, busy shopping areas, a university, as well as a thriving night-time economy.
This all means there will be more reports of crime when comparing it to other neighbourhoods in Essex.

''Police in Southend routinely patrol the town centre, and deal with any crime that happens by officers are also working on successful initiatives and operations which tackle anti-social behaviour, drugs and prostitution.''


Top 10 Worst Hit Areas in Essex by Crime Type: January 2011

Anti-Social Behaviour

Violent Crime

Personal Robbery

Vehicle Crime

Burglary