Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
SS6 · Essex
158
crimes in April 2026
Near national average
SS2 · Southend-on-Sea
706
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Rayleigh has less crime — 158 vs 706 incidents in April 2026.
Southend-on-Sea recorded substantially more crime than Rayleigh in April 2026 — 706 incidents compared to 158, a 4.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Rayleigh sees higher rates of Shoplifting (17), while Southend-on-Sea has more Criminal damage & arson (60). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Rayleigh recorded fewer crimes than Southend-on-Sea — 158 vs 706 incidents. That is 78% fewer crimes. Southend-on-Sea is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Rayleigh saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Southend-on-Sea had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Rayleigh recorded fewer total crimes (158 vs 706).