Harwich Crime Overview

Harwich is the second most dangerous small town in Essex, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of Essex's 319 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Harwich in 2020 was 107 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Essex's overall crime rate, coming in 27% higher than the Essex rate of 78 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Harwich is the 45th most dangerous small town, and the 398th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In June 2020, Harwich was the worst small town in Essex for burglary, with 11 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.58 per 1,000 inhabitants. November 2020 was also a bad month for Harwich residents, when it was Essex's most dangerous small town for criminal damage and arson, recording 17 crimes at a rate of 0.90 per 1,000 residents. Harwich recorded 8 reports of other crime during July 2020, making its crime rate of 0.42 the worst small town for other crime in Essex that month.

The most common crimes in Harwich are violence and sexual offences, with 1,023 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 54. This is 15% higher than 2019's figure of 869 offences and a difference of 8.13 from 2019's crime rate of 46. Harwich's least common crime is theft from the person, with 3 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 233% from 2019's figure of 10 crimes.

Compare Harwich to other towns and cities

See how Harwich shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Harwich and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.

Harwich Crime Map

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Crime in Harwich Compared To Essex

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Summary of Crimes in Harwich This Year

 HarwichEssex 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour66034.8449,41426.7623% more dangerous
Bicycle Theft130.691,8671.0146% safer
Burglary1296.817,1213.8643% more dangerous
Criminal Damage and Arson22311.7714,0377.6035% more dangerous
Drugs733.856,4523.499% more dangerous
Other Crime462.433,2051.7428% more dangerous
Other Theft1085.709,4275.1011% more dangerous
Possession of Weapons191.001,1960.6535% more dangerous
Public Order23712.5115,0938.1735% more dangerous
Robbery100.531,2270.6625% safer
Shoplifting351.857,1183.85108% safer
Theft From the Person30.169920.54238% safer
Vehicle Crime1085.7010,5505.710.18% safer
Violence and Sexual Offences1,02354.0065,39435.4134% more dangerous

Harwich Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Chigwell1,10078.7936% safer
Myland1,27384.6026% safer
Epping1,06986.3424% safer
Rochford91394.9513% safer
Waltham Abbey2,312102.894.0% safer
Harwich2,027107.01-
Tilbury1,721121.8812% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Harwich

View crime percentage over time for

Recent Crimes in Harwich

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Bagshaw RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Bagshaw RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Norway CrescentUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Other crimeOn or near Blackthorn RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Heron WayInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near The CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Alexandra StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Yorktown CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Nelson RoadUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Petrol StationUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Paddock CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Mill LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Mill LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Mill LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Mill LaneUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Vaux AvenueInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Oakley RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near Orwell RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
August 2021Criminal damage and arsonOn or near SupermarketUnable to prosecute suspect
August 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near SupermarketUnable to prosecute suspect

Harwich Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour32323235Getting worse
Bicycle Theft0.951.71.30.69Safer
Burglary6767Getting worse
Criminal Damage and Arson13101512Safer
Drugs1.21.62.53.8Getting worse
Other Crime1.62.12.72.4Getting worse
Other Theft71076Safer
Possession of Weapons0.950.840.951.0Getting worse
Public Order79913Getting worse
Robbery (inc. mugging)0.630.630.580.53Safer
Shoplifting4.673.71.8Safer
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)0.420.580.530.16Safer
Vehicle Crime64.266Getting worse
Violence and Sexual Offences31364654Getting worse

Changes In Harwich's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing Harwich to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
Barnet67.7158% safer
Coventry77.4138% safer
Croydon83.2229% safer
Sheffield85.8125% safer
Bristol86.2124% safer
Leicester97.4410% safer
Birmingham102.874.0% safer
Harwich107.01-
Liverpool107.280.25% more dangerous
Bradford133.0220% more dangerous
Leeds137.1022% more dangerous

Crime in Harwich's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Harwich Parkeston993127Second
Harwich Town & Dovercourt904138First

Crime in Harwich During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Harwich change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in May, when Harwich saw a 800% increase in vehicle crime. Harwich saw a large fall in other theft during April, when it fell by 91% compared to April in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour-18%-3%-9%-26%+65%+47%+10%+41%+2%+38%
Bicycle Theft-50%----67%-67%----
Burglary+25%+50%+25%+38%+13%-56%-33%+25%-77%+120%
Criminal Damage and Arson-34%-55%-39%--5%-10%+6%+67%-56%-6%
Drugs-14%+100%+150%+200%+50%+600%+150%-+100%+17%
Other Crime+300%--40%-63%+167%+100%+400%-67%-44%-
Other Theft-60%-91%+38%---15%+38%-33%+50%+14%
Possession of Weapons-67%-+400%--+50%+133%--67%-
Public Order+80%+9%+31%+160%+68%+43%-30%--44%+64%
Robbery--25%-----+200%--
Shoplifting--89%-67%-40%--+50%+100%-60%+300%
Theft From the Person---50%-------
Vehicle Crime-36%+6%+800%+33%-14%-82%+83%+67%-43%+50%
Violence and Sexual Offences+12%-+24%-19%+41%+10%+49%+5%+3%+23%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Harwich

What police force serves Harwich?
Harwich's local territorial police force is the Essex Police.
How dangerous is Harwich?
Harwich is the second most dangerous small town in Essex.
What is Harwich's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Harwich are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in Harwich?
Harwich's least common crime is theft from the person (inc. pickpocketing).

Last updated: 05 Oct 2021