11th June 2025
Essex, a county in the southeast of England known for its mix of coastal towns, commuter belt suburbs, countryside villages, and brash-but-charming personality, has been making headlines lately for a very different reason: crime.
In June 2025, the county went viral online after a video of several police officers chasing a shoplifter was posted on a social media platform.
But how bad is the crime rate in Essex, and how can business owners protect themselves, their properties, and their staff?
Essex’s crime rate stands at 95.5 offences per 1,000 people, which is notably higher than the national average of 84 per 1,000 across the UK as of September 2024.
Violent crime is also elevated, with a rate of 37.5 per 1,000 people, approximately 7% higher than the national average of 34.9 per 1,000.
When compared to other regions, Essex’s overall criminal activity rate is lower than areas like London, which reported 132.6 crimes per 1,000 people in 2024/25, and Cleveland, which had 129.3 per 1,000.
However, it remains higher than the national average and significantly above the safest counties, such as Wiltshire, which recorded 53.9 crimes per 1,000 people.
Essex Police recorded 17,968 shoplifting offences in the 12 months ending September 2024, equating to a rate of 12 reports per 1,000 people, which is 47% higher than the national average.
Vehicle crime, which includes theft from or of commercial vehicles, remains a significant issue. Essex reported 11,800 vehicle crime offences in the year ending March 2025, accounting for 7.7% of all criminal acts in the area.
Freight crime is also an area of concern, reflecting a broader national trend, with organised criminal gangs increasingly targeting lorries transporting high-value goods. In 2024, the total loss value of lorry and cargo thefts in the UK reached £102 million, up from £68 million the previous year. Organised gangs targeted high-value goods, including cosmetics and alcohol, with 99% of the 4,632 reported thefts attributed to homegrown criminal networks.
In February 2024, a notable incident occurred in Essex in which five men threatened a lorry driver with a handgun while he was parked in a lay-by, subsequently stealing his cargo. These criminal groups employ various methods, including slashing side curtains, breaking locks, and even using angle grinders to access cargo.
Essex Police have been proactive in addressing this issue. Their Rural Engagement Team, in collaboration with the National Construction and Agricultural Theft Team (NCATT), has conducted operations at ports like Harwich International. In one such operation, they recovered over £100,000 worth of stolen construction equipment and arrested individuals suspected of handling stolen goods.
Businesses in Essex and across the UK face a range of threats, from shoplifting and fraud to cybercrime and freight theft. While the risks vary by sector, there are some common-sense strategies that can significantly reduce vulnerability:
No system is perfect, but the more barriers you put up, the harder it is for anyone to target your business successfully.
From Colchester to Southend, Stage Security delivers reliable, professional services across Essex.
Whether you’re hosting a major event, managing a venue, or protecting your business premises, we have the services you need, backed by nearly two decades of on-the-ground experience.
Our SIA-licensed team is trusted by councils, event organisers, and private clients across the county. We provide manned guarding, mobile patrols, event security, alarm response, and key holding, all coordinated through our 24/7 control room.
Our local knowledge, rapid response, and dedicated account managers ensure you get more than a security guard on-site. You get peace of mind, round the clock.
If you’re based in Essex and looking for a security partner who understands the area and delivers every time, let’s talk. We know how to protect you and your team.
What our clients say about us
As a leading regional 24/7 security provider, we ensure every member of our team is fully SIA-licensed, highly trained, and prepared to deliver the highest standards of protection. Our commitment to robust quality processes ensures our clients benefit from consistent, reliable, and professional service at all times.
As a local security company, we take pride in offering a personalised approach backed by industry-leading standards. We work closely with each client to understand their needs, ensuring our solutions are tailored, effective, and delivered with care.
Our reliability, integrity, and meticulous planning make us one of the region’s most trusted security providers, being well-equipped to meet your requirements and safeguard your business and assets.
"Stage took the time to understand our business requirements and plans for growth. It was clear that they were the best security provider to partner with our business as we looked to expand in the UK and region of Suffolk. The services Stage has delivered to our business since the start of 2022 have helped ensure our site, staff and property is always protected."
— Sheng Li, FDS Corporation
"We have used Stage security since the beginning of 2022 and have found them to be personable and responsive to our questions and needs regarding a broad range of events. Offering appropriate security personnel to suit each event is key to us, and the team at Stage have always delivered."
— Jonathan Senior, Wherstead Park
"We have been working with Stage Security for a few years now and have always found their service to be very reliable and professional. We would certainly recommend them to other clients."
— Josie Stone, Beyond the Box Student
"The guys were amazing! Super friendly, fully capable, and highly visual. They took onboard our specific instructions, and we're nice to all that attended. Everyone at the event was very complimentary of the guys. I've recommended stage to several people based on this experience already."
— Councillor Ruman Muhith, Ipswich Borough Council
"We are very pleased with the level of service provided and look forward to continuing our partnership with them moving forward."
— Elmstead Place, Yugo
"Stage Security has been an invaluable partner in safeguarding our Ipswich office. Their professionalism and prompt response times consistently reassure us and allow us to focus on our core operations. Since partnering with Stage, we’ve seen a marked improvement in service quality and reliability. We confidently recommend them as a trusted, first-choice security provider."
— Birketts LLP
"I wanted to pass on a compliment for the security team working at the Regent on the 27th Feb: Another amazing security team- Allen, Kelly and Keira. They were proactive at the start helping to hand out wristbands to customers and putting smiles on people’s faces. Great customer service!"
— House Manager, Ipswich Regent Theatre
"Thank you to your two guys who were patrolling Christchurch Park today. They were very friendly and approachable. They took time to speak to the young people who were enjoying being in the park. As a parent it is very reassuring that they are in the park, and if there is any problems people know that they can approach them and they are there to help!"
— Lisa Cooper
"May I take this opportunity to say thank you, it has been a pleasure dealing with you and the company. Also, we all wanted to pass on our personal thanks to David who was such a nice person and he did such a good job giving us such peace of mind (and a much needed break every night after such long days!)."
— Katrina Robertson, Whitton Parish
"Kieran was the best front-of-house SIA security staff member we have worked with for years. He was attentive in what was going on, helpful and approachable with the customers. The little jobs I often have to remind staff to do just happened without prompt, he wasn't in a rush to leave for his later job, and he wasn't constantly on his phone in front of the customers."
— Shaun Whymark, Ipswich Regent Theatre
"I would like to thank Adam Howes and his team for their work and support at Suffolk Pride 2019. They brought their professional expertise and clear understanding of our needs to our event. They understood and delivered our objectives for the day in a proficient and skilled manner whilst carrying out their role."
— Suffolk Pride
"Thank you and to your team so much for Wednesday. You really were superstars and I can’t thank you enough for all your help and support. From the word 'go' you were all so professional and just got on doing what you do best."
— Sarah Shinnie, Suffolk District Council
"A very big thank you to you and your staff for a successful event (Stowmarket Christmas Fayre) that was held yesterday (28th Nov 2021). Your staff were exemplary, actively engaging with members of the public, reinforcing the road closure and also alerting myself and other Town Council staff to potential issues of concern. Thank you once again."
— Michael Marriott, Stowmarket Town Council
"I wanted to say a big thank you and well done to the security who worked here last night, especially Steph and Karl. We had a first aid incident which involved a lady fainting. Steph was very quickly on the scene and took a lot of control of what was happening."
— Mark Wright, Operations Manager, The Apex
"I wanted to write to say how brilliant your two security guards were at the school ball. They were the best we have had. They were friendly and professional, worked the whole time and were very observant with regards to the behaviour of our students; they were proactive about stepping in when required."
— Mrs Isobel Tyndale-Brown, Woodbridge School
"We held a music festival at our Holiday Park for over 3000 people, guests and owners. Hiring Stage Security was a simple process, from start to finish with professional care and regular communication throughout the whole preparation time before the event."
— Kelly Evans, The Orchards Holiday Village
