What is the crime rate in Colchester? 87 crimes per 1,000 residents
Colchester had 16,859 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 87 per 1,000 residents and Very High for England and Wales. Crime rose 5.2% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 16,859
- Compared with England and Wales
- Very High
- On the previous 12 months
- +5.2%
Police-recorded crime in the 12 months to August 2026, per 1,000 residents (Census 2021). Anti-social behaviour is not included. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk. How we calculate this
All house prices in ColchesterWhat are the most common crimes in Colchester?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in Colchester, with 8,110 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (42 per 1,000 residents). The England and Wales rate is 35 per 1,000. 2 of 13 crime types are more than 10% above the England and Wales rate.
| Crime type | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offencesAbove England and Wales | 42 per 1,000 |
| Shoplifting | 9.0 per 1,000 |
| Public order | 7.0 per 1,000 |
| Other theft | 6.5 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 6.5 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crime | 5.5 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 2.8 per 1,000 |
| DrugsBelow England and Wales | 2.5 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeBelow England and Wales | 1.8 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftAbove England and Wales | 1.2 per 1,000 |
| RobberyBelow England and Wales | 1.1 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weaponsBelow England and Wales | 0.9 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.6 per 1,000 |
Tags mark crime types more than 10% above or below the England and Wales rate for the same type.
Is crime going up or down in Colchester?
Crime rose 5.2% on the previous 12 months. 16,859 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 16,033 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of Colchester has the lowest crime rate?
East Donyland has the lowest crime rate of the 15 areas of Colchester, at 25 crimes per 1,000 residents. Mile End has the highest, at 96. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| East DonylandVery Low | 25 | Very Low | £318,943 |
| CopfordVery Low | 27 | Very Low | £415,900 |
| Layer-de-la-HayeVery Low | 30 | Very Low | £522,233 |
| Great HorkesleyLow | 38 | Low | £462,733 |
| West MerseaLow | 39 | Low | £444,384 |
| TiptreeLow | 40 | Low | £369,855 |
| West BergholtLow | 41 | Low | £405,166 |
| BoxtedTypical | 43 | Typical | £500,166 |
| DedhamTypical | 44 | Typical | £646,846 |
| WivenhoeTypical | 47 | Typical | £348,687 |
| LanghamHigh | 57 | High | £593,142 |
| Eight Ash GreenHigh | 59 | High | £404,956 |
| Marks TeyHigh | 61 | High | £317,148 |
| StanwayVery High | 85 | Very High | £349,497 |
| Mile EndVery High | 96 | Very High | £327,601 |
How does crime in Colchester compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in Colchester compared with the 6 nearest other areas in Essex.
Colchester vs Tolleshunt Knights
- Colchester
- 87 per 1,000
- Tolleshunt Knights
- 17 per 1,000
Open comparison
Colchester vs Tollesbury
- Colchester
- 87 per 1,000
- Tollesbury
- 26 per 1,000
Open comparison
Colchester vs Tolleshunt D'Arcy
- Colchester
- 87 per 1,000
- Tolleshunt D'Arcy
- 15 per 1,000
Open comparison
Colchester vs Great Braxted
- Colchester
- 87 per 1,000
- Great Braxted
- No crime rate
Open comparison
Colchester vs Tolleshunt Major
- Colchester
- 87 per 1,000
- Tolleshunt Major
- No crime rate
Open comparison
Colchester vs Little Totham
- Colchester
- 87 per 1,000
- Little Totham
- No crime rate
Open comparison
Is Colchester a safe place to live?
Colchester had 87 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Very High among areas in England and Wales. Crime rose 5.2% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences. These are crimes reported to the police, not a safety rating. City-centre and retail areas have high rates because crimes against visitors and shops are counted, but only residents are in the population.
Crime rate is Very High, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
Very High means the highest fifth of areas in England and Wales by crime rate. The bands split every area we cover into fifths by crime rate, from Very Low to Very High.
How much anti-social behaviour is there in Colchester?
Police recorded 2,099 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Colchester in the 12 months to August 2026, or 11 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is counted separately and is not included in the crime figures.
What else do people ask about Colchester?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in Colchester.
- What is the average house price in Colchester?
- When did average house prices in Colchester reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in Colchester?
- What type of properties are sold in Colchester?
- What price range do most homes sell for in Colchester?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of Colchester?
- How many parks and green spaces are in Colchester?
- How do Colchester house prices compare with another area?
Where does this data come from?
Price information is from HM Land Registry, location boundaries are from OpenStreetMap, and households and population are from Nomis Census 2021 postcode estimates (21 March 2021). Parks and green space are from OS Open Greenspace. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Crime is from police.uk street-level data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk.
Last updated 31 October 2026 at 17:31 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The Colchester dataset covers 7,509 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.