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Crime and justice in Colchester

District

The south east of the East of England. 201,163 people in 332 square kilometres.

13 layers about crime and justice for Colchester, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

Open in map

Crime and ASB by neighbourhood

Police recorded crime and outcomes (data.police.uk) · August 2026

Under 323 or more

Colchester’s 117 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 160.

Is Colchester safe? What police records show

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Colchester at a rate of 94.4 per 1,000 people.

That compares with 80.2 per 1,000 people across East of England.

Across England as a whole, the recorded crime rate was 96.3 per 1,000 people.

In August 2026 alone, 1,694 cases of crime and anti-social behaviour were recorded in Colchester.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the most common types were violence and sexual offences (8,126), other crime (3,358) and anti-social behaviour (2,100).

A year earlier, the recorded crime rate in Colchester was 87.4 per 1,000 people.

Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.

Rates are per resident, so places that many people work in or visit, such as Westminster, the City of London and other city centres, have far higher rates than their residents alone would suggest.

Recorded crime rate

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
94.4 per 1,000
Worked out by Open Index · Aug 2026

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Colchester at a rate of 94.4 per 1,000 people.

That compares with 80.2 per 1,000 people across East of England.

Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.

Against East of England
18% higher80.2 per 1,000
Recorded crime rate: Colchester among every council313 areas from 39.3 per 1,000 to 618.2 per 1,000. The middle area is 85.3 per 1,000. Colchester is 94.4 per 1,000.

Crime and anti-social behaviour

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,694
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Crime and anti-social behaviour: Colchester among every council313 areas from 19 to 12,917. The middle area is 1,167. Colchester is 1,694.

Anti-social behaviour

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
2,100
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Anti-social behaviour: Colchester among every council313 areas from 4 to 13,969. The middle area is 2,093. Colchester is 2,100.

Burglary

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
541
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Burglary: Colchester among every council313 areas from 6 to 6,781. The middle area is 406. Colchester is 541.

Criminal damage and arson

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,256
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Criminal damage and arson: Colchester among every council313 areas from 6 to 11,365. The middle area is 978. Colchester is 1,256.

Drug offences

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
495
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Drug offences: Colchester among every council313 areas from 2 to 7,670. The middle area is 369. Colchester is 495.

Other crime

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
3,358
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Other crime: Colchester among every council313 areas from 22 to 25,019. The middle area is 2,187. Colchester is 3,358.

Robbery

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
203
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Robbery: Colchester among every council313 areas from 0 to 3,601. The middle area is 101. Colchester is 203.

Shoplifting

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,726
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Shoplifting: Colchester among every council313 areas from 2 to 12,621. The middle area is 1,038. Colchester is 1,726.

Theft from the person

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
113
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Theft from the person: Colchester among every council313 areas from 0 to 17,267. The middle area is 54. Colchester is 113.

Vehicle crime

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,068
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Vehicle crime: Colchester among every council313 areas from 2 to 12,181. The middle area is 513. Colchester is 1,068.

Violence and sexual offences

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
8,126
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Violence and sexual offences: Colchester among every council313 areas from 49 to 62,950. The middle area is 4,756. Colchester is 8,126.

Street-level crime

Map pointEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only

Published as points, so there is no single figure for Colchester. The map shows each one.