Postcode area · Colchester
Crime in CO
How much crime is recorded in CO, what kind, and how it compares with the rest of the country.
- Council
- Colchester
- Region
- East of England
- Population
- 486,545 (2024)
COPostcode area · Colchester
How safe is CO
Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 32.2 offences per 1,000 people a year in CO, broadly in line with the 31.1 average across England and Wales. That puts it in band 7 of 10 against all council areas.
Higher-harm crime band
7/ 10
Lowest crimeHighest crime
Around the middle of council areas in England and Wales.
Higher-harm
32.2
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 31.1
All crime
59
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 67
What crime is recorded
Recorded offences per 1,000 people a year (counting both residents and people who work locally, or per 1,000 households for burglary).
CONational
Violence and sexual offences26.223.6
Anti-social behaviour6.410.7
Shoplifting6.18.4
Burglary6.19.1
Criminal damage and arson4.54.7
Other theft4.04.5
Public order3.94.6
Vehicle crime3.23.5
Drugs1.82.4
Other crime1.41.5
Robbery1.01.4
Bicycle theft0.91.0
Possession of weapons0.80.9
Theft from the person0.72.1
Higher-harm crime over time
It has fallen 13% since 2022.
Higher-harm crimes per 1,000
0
10
20
30
40
2022202320242025
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, resolved to neighbourhoods. Rates cover September 2025 to August 2026, the latest twelve months published.