Rayleigh vs Southend-on-Sea — Crime Comparison 2026

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

Rayleigh

SS6 · Essex

158

crimes in April 2026

Near national average

  • Violence & sexual offences63
  • Anti-social behaviour19
  • Shoplifting17

Southend-on-Sea

SS1 · Southend-on-Sea

762

crimes in April 2026

Above national average

  • Violence & sexual offences358
  • Anti-social behaviour96
  • Shoplifting52

Rayleigh has less crime — 158 vs 762 incidents in April 2026.

What the data shows

Southend-on-Sea recorded substantially more crime than Rayleigh in April 2026 — 762 incidents compared to 158, a 4.8x difference. Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their most common crime type, though Southend-on-Sea records significantly more (358 vs 63 incidents). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Rayleigh or Southend-on-Sea safer?

Based on April 2026 Police data, Rayleigh recorded fewer crimes than Southend-on-Sea — 158 vs 762 incidents. That is 79% fewer crimes. Southend-on-Sea is above the national average.

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

Both areas share Violence & sexual offences as their top crime category. In April 2026, Rayleigh recorded 63 incidents of this type vs 358 in Southend-on-Sea. Overall, Rayleigh had fewer total crimes (158 vs 762).

Compare other areas

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