Postcode district · Colchester
Crime in CO3
How much crime is recorded in CO3, what kind, and how it compares with the rest of the country.
- Council
- Colchester
- Region
- East of England
- Population
- 50,353 (2024)
CO3Postcode district · Colchester
How safe is CO3
Higher-harm crime (violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences) runs at 36.8 offences per 1,000 people a year in CO3, above the 31.1 average across England and Wales. That puts it in band 7 of 10 against all neighbourhoods.
Higher-harm crime band
7/ 10
Lowest crimeHighest crime
Around the middle of neighbourhoods in England and Wales.
Higher-harm
36.8
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 31.1
All crime
73
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).
CO3National
Violence and sexual offences30.323.6
Shoplifting10.68.4
Anti-social behaviour9.110.7
Burglary6.49.1
Public order5.64.6
Criminal damage and arson4.54.7
Other theft4.44.5
Vehicle crime3.43.5
Drugs2.32.4
Other crime1.51.5
Bicycle theft1.31.0
Robbery1.31.4
Theft from the person1.12.1
Possession of weapons0.80.9
Higher-harm crime over time
It has fallen 12% since 2022.
Higher-harm crimes per 1,000
0
20
40
60
2022202320242025
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, resolved to neighbourhoods. Rates cover September 2025 to August 2026, the latest twelve months published.