Barking vs Southend-on-Sea — Crime Comparison 2026

Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.

Barking

RM6 · Greater London

499

crimes in March 2026

Above national average

  • Violence & sexual offences193
  • Anti-social behaviour91
  • Shoplifting48

Southend-on-Sea

SS3 · Southend-on-Sea

185

crimes in March 2026

Near national average

  • Violence & sexual offences78
  • Anti-social behaviour31
  • Shoplifting15

Southend-on-Sea has less crime — 185 vs 499 incidents in March 2026.

What the data shows

Barking recorded substantially more crime than Southend-on-Sea in March 2026 — 499 incidents compared to 185, a 2.7x difference. Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their most common crime type, though Barking records significantly more (193 vs 78 incidents). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Barking or Southend-on-Sea safer?

Based on March 2026 Police data, Southend-on-Sea recorded fewer crimes than Barking — 185 vs 499 incidents. That is 63% fewer crimes. Barking is above the national average.

What are the main differences in crime between Barking and Southend-on-Sea?

Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their top crime category. In March 2026, Barking recorded 193 incidents of this type vs 78 in Southend-on-Sea. Overall, Southend-on-Sea had fewer total crimes (185 vs 499).

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