Romford vs Southend-on-Sea — Crime Comparison 2026

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

Romford

RM7 · Greater London

567

crimes in February 2026

Above national average

  • Violence & sexual offences156
  • Anti-social behaviour112
  • Shoplifting65

Southend-on-Sea

SS3 · Southend-on-Sea

104

crimes in February 2026

Below national average

  • Violence & sexual offences39
  • Burglary11
  • Other theft11

Southend-on-Sea has less crime — 104 vs 567 incidents in February 2026.

What the data shows

Romford recorded substantially more crime than Southend-on-Sea in February 2026 — 567 incidents compared to 104, a 5.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Romford sees higher rates of Anti-social behaviour (112) and Shoplifting (65), while Southend-on-Sea has more Burglary (11) and Other theft (11). Romford sits above the national average for recorded crime while Southend-on-Sea is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.

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Frequently asked questions

Is Romford or Southend-on-Sea safer?

Based on February 2026 Police data, Southend-on-Sea recorded fewer crimes than Romford — 104 vs 567 incidents. That is 82% fewer crimes. Southend-on-Sea is also below the national average for crime.

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

The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Romford saw higher rates of Anti-social behaviour and Shoplifting while Southend-on-Sea had more Burglary and Other theft. Overall, Southend-on-Sea recorded fewer total crimes (104 vs 567).

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