Burstead, Basildon: Safety
Safety
Burstead's crime rate is close to the UK average, but what really stands out is how safe it feels. Anti-social behaviour is notably low compared to national figures, and vehicle crime has dropped sharply over the past two years.
In 2024 and 2025, Burstead recorded around 575 to 579 total crimes per year — broadly in line with the UK average of roughly 700. Anti-social behaviour is genuinely impressive here: just 27 to 29 incidents a year, compared to over 100 nationally. That's a real difference.
Vehicle crime has fallen from 87 incidents in 2024 to just 15 so far in 2026. That's a strong trend. Burstead also compares well against its neighbouring neighbourhoods, several of which record significantly higher overall crime totals.
Source: police-recorded crime for Burstead ward (Essex Police, data.police.uk), Jan 2024–Aug 2026; residents from Census 2021. This summary may predate the latest data release; the table below has the current figures.
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Crime rate comparison
Crimes per 1,000 residents, Jan–Dec 2025. Burstead ward: Essex Police data via data.police.uk; residents from Census 2021. Averages are for all wards in the area over the same months. Planna's safety index uses the latest 12 months instead, so it can differ.
2024
2025
Jan–Aug 2026
Burstead ward
Crimes/1,000 residents
43.3
Lower than
UK average (England, Wales & N. Ireland)
98.8
Lower than
East of England region average
81.9
Neighbouring wards
Lower than
Laindon Park
81.8
Similar to
Hutton East
41.5
Similar to
Billericay West
48.1
Lower than
Castledon & Crouch
53.2
Lower than
Herongate, Ingrave & West Horndon
73.2
Similar to
Billericay East
42.7
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Types of Crime
Share of police-recorded crimes in Burstead ward and the East of England region average, Jan–Dec 2025.
This ward
Regional average
- Violent offences44%38%
- Vehicle crime11%5%
- Other theft10%7%
- Criminal damage and arson9%8%
- Public order8%6%
- Burglary6%3%
- Anti-social behaviour5%14%
- Drugs2%3%
- Other crime2%2%
- Theft from the person1%1%
- Shoplifting<1%8%
- Possession of weapons<1%1%
- Robbery<1%1%
