East of England Crime Statistics

Last updated: 07 Jun 2026

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The crime rate in the East of England is 62 crimes per 1,000 people, for the 12-month period ending April 2026. The most commonly-reported crimes are violence and sexual offences, reported at a rate of roughly 28 reports per 1,000 daytime population.

Comparing the East of England's larger towns and cities using their respective Crime Risk Score - which considers the typical sentence length that convicted offenders receive for each type of crime when adding up the totals - the location with the highest score is Peterborough. The next most dangerous is Basildon, and Harlow comes in as third most dangerous. There are safer parts of the East of England, starting with St Albans which ranks as the safest area in the East of England, followed up by Southend-on-Sea in second place, and Cambridge in third place.

East of England Crime Map

Incidents mapped in East of England represent the time frame between January 2016 and April 2026. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.

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Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualise the data you need.

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Introduction to East of England's crime statistics

 

This crime profile provides a detailed view of crime and safety around East of England up to April 2026, the most recent data release available. The crime figures and statistics have been calculated across each of East of England's 880 postcodes using three area sizes for comparison:

  • Within a Five-Minute Walk
  • Within a Ten-Minute Walk
  • Within a Fifteen-Minute Walk

Individual crime risk scores and index figures are for the 12-month period ending April 2026 unless otherwise stated.

Overview map crime around East of England

Crime Risk Scores

East of England • 12 Months Ending April 2026

 

The typical five-minute walk within East of England has a crime risk score of 431. This is based on analysis of 880 nearby areas within East of England, with "most" referring to roughly two thirds of the nearby locations.

Five Mins
431 crime risk score
Ten Mins
451 crime risk score
Fifteen Mins
461 crime risk score

Crime risk scores are on a scale of 1 to 1,000 and consider the severity of the crimes involved, as determined by sentencing guidelines. A score of 1 represents the lowest risk, and 1,000 the highest risk. This approach ensures that - unlike overall crime rate figures - bicycle theft is not given the same importance in East of England's risk scores as, for example, robbery, or violence & sexual offences.

Within a five-minute walk of the typical location in East of England, crime risk scores are typically around 431, while in Cambridgeshire Police they are average 450.

Areas within a ten-minute walk typically see crime risk scores of 451 (461 for Cambridgeshire Police), and scores within a fifteen-minute walk are most often around 461 (Cambridgeshire Police 464).

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Trends in Crime Risk

East of England

 

Calculated via Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess, the Seasonality Adjusted line represents the original data with seasonality subtracted, and the Trend line has been plotted unadjusted. Overall trend direction has been identified using the Mann-Kendall trend test, and rate calculated from the slope of the best-fit line identified from linear regression.

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The 10-year trend indicates a decrease of 15% in East of England's crime risk score. This is potentially a strong signal of how the crime risk is evolving. Cross-referencing with major cultural events and Covid's impact during this time is advised.

Looking at the previous five years, the trend in East of England's crime risk score is up by 3.6%. While potentially a good indicator of the overall risk trend, analysis may offer further insight when combined with the checks mentioned above.

Over the last year, East of England's crime risk score has shown a downward trend of approximately 0.59%, indicating that the risk profile is going down. This is an extremely short time period for crime trend analysis, and caution should be exercised when interpreting this figure.

Crime Rates and Indexes

East of England

 

The CrimeRate Index shows how crime rates compare against the national average.

1.0 equals the average
2.0 is double
3.0 triple
0.5 is half and
0.25 a quarter.

Highest Crime Rates

East of England • 12 Months Ending April 2026

 

Excluding other crime and other theft because their geographic location is often not relevant, anti-social behaviour as its definition is too wide, and bicycle theft for its specificity.

Possession of Weapons
1.65 CrimeRate Index
Shoplifting
1.19 CrimeRate Index
Public Order
1.00 CrimeRate Index

Possession of Weapons offences have a crime rate of 1.40 reports per 1,000 people in East of England, which is 1.65 times the national average. This figure is calculated from 1,393 crime reports logged by Cambridgeshire Police during the 12-month period ending April 2026.

For the same period, Cambridgeshire Police recorded 8,432 reports of Shoplifting in East of England, resulting in a crime rate of 8.45 reports per 1,000, and a CrimeRate Index of 1.19.

The crime rate for Public Order is 1.00 times the national average at 5.80 reports per 1,000. This is from 5,790 crime reports reported to Cambridgeshire Police.

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Most Significant 3-Year Increases in Crime Types

East of England

 

Excluding other crime and other theft, anti-social behaviour, and bicycle theft, and calculated with the same STL method described in Trends in Crime Risk, using CrimeRate Index figures to identify crime types that are trending above or below the national average, and the analysis timeframe limited to the last three years.

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Public Order offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.98 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Public Order CrimeRate Index was 0.91 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 8% over this timeframe.

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Robbery offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.60 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Robbery CrimeRate Index was 0.33 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 82% over this timeframe.

Most Significant 3-Year Decreases in Crime Types

East of England

 

Calculated with the same methodology as the largest increases section above.

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Possession of Weapons offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.43 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Possession of Weapons CrimeRate Index was 2.00 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 28% over this timeframe.

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Theft From the Person offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.17 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Theft From the Person CrimeRate Index was 0.31 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 45% over this timeframe.

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Drugs offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.61 for the month of April 2026.

Three years ago, the monthly Drugs CrimeRate Index was 0.81 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 25% over this timeframe.

Crime Type Breakdown & Heat Map

East of England • 12 Months Ending April 2026

 

Size and colour reflect the CrimeRate Index figures for each type of crime.

 
East of England
Cambridgeshire Police
National
Crime TypeCountRateIndexCountRateIndexCountRateIndex
Anti-Social Behaviour14,46114.471.0230,50415.881.12941,22414.131.00
Bicycle Theft6390.650.891,3090.680.9348,4490.731.00
Burglary2,1542.160.694,3852.270.73208,6123.131.00
Criminal Damage and Arson5,6345.640.9011,5766.030.96418,6516.281.00
Drugs2,1182.120.694,9552.570.83205,2143.091.00
Other Crime1,4471.440.783,2281.680.91124,2301.851.00
Other Theft4,4934.490.799,6225.000.88378,1465.691.00
Possession of Weapons1,3931.401.652,4491.271.4956,6200.851.00
Public Order5,7905.801.0012,5186.521.12386,2975.801.00
Robbery7980.800.681,7630.920.7878,3861.181.00
Shoplifting8,4328.451.1919,1519.961.40475,0257.131.00
Theft From the Person3300.320.219840.510.33103,5051.551.00
Vehicle Crime2,5792.570.604,9742.590.60287,0684.301.00
Violence and Sexual Offences24,11924.140.7950,78026.410.872,024,72230.401.00
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Total Crime by Year

 
East of England
Cambridgeshire Police
National
YearCountRateIndexCountRateIndexCountRateIndex
202659,92659.980.83127,69466.410.924,794,92571.981.00
202561,38261.790.83129,56167.910.924,892,73474.031.00
202465,39166.530.88133,61970.640.944,937,62075.431.00
202361,05062.510.79126,33567.330.855,115,76379.011.00
202255,86257.680.75118,41463.650.834,922,64576.811.00
202150,48552.570.77107,77458.270.854,369,81168.571.00
202057,43760.320.81123,46966.980.904,707,68374.161.00
201953,65456.810.75114,59962.300.824,824,37076.251.00
201851,09254.300.76110,10460.050.844,484,15171.121.00
201747,08050.510.79104,15557.040.894,011,47063.941.00
201614,15615.210.8030,69516.860.881,195,22119.071.00
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The East of England's Major Towns & Cities Compared

Town / CityCrime CountCrime RateCrimeRate Index
Stanford-le-Hopexx.xx.x
Great Yarmouthx,xx.xx.x
Brettonx,xx.xx.x
Wisbechx,xx.xx.x
Tilburyx,xx.xx.x
Clacton-on-Seax,xx.xx.x
Peterboroughx,xx.xx.x
London Colneyx,xx.xx.x
Southend-on-Seax,xx.xx.x
Basildonx,xx.xx.x
Waltham Crossx,xx.xx.x
Colchesterx,xx.xx.x
Norwichx,xx.xx.x
King's Lynnx,xx.xx.x
Bedfordx,xx.xx.x
Hatfieldx,xx.xx.x
Lowestoftx,xx.xx.x
Mylandx,xx.xx.x
Harlowx,xx.xx.x
Chelmsfordx,xx.xx.x
Huntingdonx,xx.xx.x
Stevenagex,xx.xx.x
Harwichx,xx.xx.x
Chadwell St Maryxx.xx.x
Graysx,xx.xx.x
Hampton Hargate and Valex,xx.xx.x
Waltham Abbeyx,xx.xx.x
Ipswichx,xx.xx.x
Sudburyx,xx.xx.x
Kempstonx,xx.xx.x
Marchx,xx.xx.x
Cambridgex,xx.xx.x
Lutonx,xx.xx.x
Thetfordx,xx.xx.x
Elstree and Borehamwoodx,xx.xx.x
South Ockendonx,xx.xx.x
Orton Longuevillexx.xx.x
Cheshuntx,xx.xx.x
Watfordx,xx.xx.x
Mildenhallxx.xx.x
Eppingxx.xx.x
Hemel Hempsteadx,xx.xx.x
Stanwayxx.xx.x
Potters Barx,xx.xx.x
Derehamx,xx.xx.x
Loughtonx,xx.xx.x
St Albansx,xx.xx.x
Brentwoodx,xx.xx.x
Rochfordxx.xx.x
Hoddesdonx,xx.xx.x
Braintreex,xx.xx.x
Bury St Edmundsx,xx.xx.x
Haverhillx,xx.xx.x
Canvey Islandx,xx.xx.x
Newmarketx,xx.xx.x
Ramseyxx.xx.x
Baldockxx.xx.x
Littleportxx.xx.x
Wymondhamx,xx.xx.x
Watford Ruralx,xx.xx.x
Maldonx,xx.xx.x
Withamx,xx.xx.x
Fakenhamxx.xx.x
Brandonxx.xx.x
Cromerxx.xx.x
Dunstablex,xx.xx.x
Dissxx.xx.x
Welwyn Garden Cityx,xx.xx.x
St Stephenx,xx.xx.x
Swaffhamxx.xx.x
Hellesdonxx.xx.x
Houghton Regisx,xx.xx.x
Halsteadxx.xx.x
Chigwellxx.xx.x
Yaxleyxx.xx.x
St. Neotsx,xx.xx.x
Hertfordx,xx.xx.x
Letchworth Garden Cityx,xx.xx.x
Becclesxx.xx.x
North Walshamxx.xx.x
Wickfordx,xx.xx.x
Stowmarketx,xx.xx.x
Brickhillxx.xx.x
Frinton and Waltonx,xx.xx.x
Sandyxx.xx.x
Bishop's Stortfordx,xx.xx.x
Leighton-Linsladex,xx.xx.x
Elyx,xx.xx.x
Warex,xx.xx.x
Costesseyxx.xx.x
Buckhurst Hillxx.xx.x
Whittleseyxx.xx.x
Chatterisxx.xx.x
Abbots Langleyx,xx.xx.x
Heybridgexx.xx.x
Burnham-on-Crouchxx.xx.x
Great Baddowxx.xx.x
Busheyx,xx.xx.x
Great Dunmowxx.xx.x
Caister-on-Seaxx.xx.x
Sawbridgeworthxx.xx.x
Aldenhamxx.xx.x
Biggleswadex,xx.xx.x
Downham Marketxx.xx.x
Rickmansworthx,xx.xx.x
Brightlingseaxx.xx.x
Wivenhoexx.xx.x
St. Ivesxx.xx.x
Hitchinx,xx.xx.x
Orton Watervillexx.xx.x
Woodbridgexx.xx.x
North Mymmsxx.xx.x
Felixstowex,xx.xx.x
Sohamxx.xx.x
Leigh-on-Seax,xx.xx.x
Sandridgexx.xx.x
Hadleighxx.xx.x
Attleboroughxx.xx.x
Rayleighx,xx.xx.x
South Woodham Ferrersxx.xx.x
Thundersley and South Benfleetx,xx.xx.x
Great Cornardxx.xx.x
Bradwellxx.xx.x
Berkhamstedxx.xx.x
Roystonxx.xx.x
Billericayx,xx.xx.x
Tringxx.xx.x
Wattonxx.xx.x
Tiptreexx.xx.x
Stotfoldxx.xx.x
Saffron Waldenxx.xx.x
Cambournexx.xx.x
Thorpe St. Andrewxx.xx.x
Harpendenx,xx.xx.x
Flitwickxx.xx.x
Springfieldxx.xx.x
Welwynxx.xx.x
Chorleywoodxx.xx.x
Hawkwellxx.xx.x
Ampthillxx.xx.x
Carlton Colvillexx.xx.x
Sprowstonxx.xx.x
Croxley Greenxx.xx.x
Hockleyxx.xx.x
Taverhamxx.xx.x
Kesgravexx.xx.x
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