Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
RM14 · Greater London
81
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
SS2 · Southend-on-Sea
706
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Romford has less crime — 81 vs 706 incidents in April 2026.
Southend-on-Sea recorded substantially more crime than Romford in April 2026 — 706 incidents compared to 81, a 8.7x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Romford sees higher rates of Shoplifting (17) and Vehicle crime (15), while Southend-on-Sea has more Anti-social behaviour (91) and Criminal damage & arson (60). Romford is below the national average while Southend-on-Sea is above, making Romford the safer choice on this measure.
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, Romford recorded fewer crimes than Southend-on-Sea — 81 vs 706 incidents. That is 89% fewer crimes. Romford is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Romford saw higher rates of Shoplifting and Vehicle crime while Southend-on-Sea had more Anti-social behaviour and Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Romford recorded fewer total crimes (81 vs 706).