Harwich is among the top 5 most dangerous small towns in Essex, and is the 23rd most dangerous overall out of Essex's 315 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Harwich in 2021 was 110 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Essex's overall crime rate, coming in 26% higher than the Essex rate of 81 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Harwich is the 53rd most dangerous small town, and the 434th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In August 2021, Harwich was the worst SmallTown.ToInlineText() in Essex for bicycle theft, with 3 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.16 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2021 was also a bad month for Harwich residents, when it was Essex's most dangerous SmallTown.ToInlineText() for burglary, recording 16 crimes at a rate of 0.84 per 1,000 residents. Harwich recorded 20 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2021, making its crime rate of 1.1 the worst SmallTown.ToInlineText() for criminal damage and arson in Essex that month.
The most common crimes in Harwich are violence and sexual offences, with 1,164 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 61. This is 12% higher than 2020's figure of 1,023 offences and a difference of 7.45 from 2020's crime rate of 54. Harwich's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 7 offences recorded in 2021, a decrease of 86% from 2020's figure of 13 crimes.
Top 5 Most Dangerous
Small Towns, Essex
36% higher, regional crime rate
East of England
34% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Harwich is 36% higher than the East of England and 34% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Harwich | |
| East of England | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Harwich represent the time frame between April 2019 and March 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
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 visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 110 | 2,083 |
| 2020 | 107 | 2,027 |
| 2019 | 102 | 1,932 |
| 2018 | 91 | 1,732 |
| 2017 | 79 | 1,503 |
| 2016 | 78 | 1,485 |
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| Harwich | Essex | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 488 | 25.76 | 38,402 | 20.80 | 19% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 7 | 0.37 | 1,650 | 0.89 | 141% safer |
| Burglary | 86 | 4.54 | 5,840 | 3.16 | 30% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 220 | 11.61 | 13,534 | 7.33 | 37% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 91 | 4.80 | 5,362 | 2.90 | 40% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 50 | 2.64 | 3,180 | 1.72 | 35% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 101 | 5.33 | 10,249 | 5.55 | 4.1% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 22 | 1.16 | 1,182 | 0.64 | 45% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 238 | 12.56 | 16,425 | 8.89 | 29% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.63 | 1,250 | 0.68 | 8% safer |
| Shoplifting | 36 | 1.90 | 7,095 | 3.84 | 102% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 10 | 0.53 | 1,038 | 0.56 | 6% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 46 | 2.43 | 10,154 | 5.50 | 126% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 1,164 | 61.45 | 72,864 | 39.46 | 36% more dangerous |
| Small Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Baddow | 1,180 | 78.66 | 40% safer |
| Maldon | 1,260 | 86.01 | 28% safer |
| Epping | 1,074 | 86.75 | 27% safer |
| Halstead | 1,066 | 87.66 | 25% safer |
| Waltham Abbey | 2,308 | 102.71 | 7% safer |
| Harwich | 2,083 | 109.96 | - |
| Myland | 1,690 | 112.31 | 2.1% more dangerous |
| Rochford | 1,087 | 113.04 | 2.7% more dangerous |
| Tilbury | 1,764 | 124.92 | 12% more dangerous |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Sports/Recreation Area | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Kingsway | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Hordle Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near Victoria Street | Formal action is not in the public interest |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Pound Farm Drive | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Marine Parade | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near King'S Head Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Park/Open Space | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Mill Lane | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Princes Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Rosebank | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Hazelville Close | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Grange Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Dockfield Avenue | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Church Street | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near George Street | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Musgrave Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Ferry Terminal | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Hordle Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Little Church Street | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 32 | 32 | 35 | 26 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.69 | 0.37 | Safer |
| Burglary | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4.5 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 10 | 15 | 12 | 12 | Safer |
| Drugs | 1.6 | 2.5 | 3.8 | 4.8 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 2.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.6 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.84 | 0.95 | 1.0 | 1.2 | Getting worse |
| Public Order | 9 | 9 | 13 | 13 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.63 | 0.58 | 0.53 | 0.63 | Getting worse |
| Shoplifting | 7 | 3.7 | 1.8 | 1.9 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 0.58 | 0.53 | 0.16 | 0.53 | Getting worse |
| Vehicle Crime | 4.2 | 6 | 6 | 2.4 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 36 | 46 | 54 | 61 | Getting worse |
| Small Town | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | 39.93 | 175% safer |
| Birmingham | 49.60 | 122% safer |
| Barnet | 67.08 | 64% safer |
| Croydon | 82.48 | 33% safer |
| Sheffield | 90.03 | 22% safer |
| Bristol | 90.52 | 21% safer |
| Harwich | 109.96 | - |
| Leicester | 111.59 | 1.5% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 123.06 | 11% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 132.28 | 17% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 150.94 | 27% more dangerous |
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harwich Parkeston | 976 | 125 | Second |
| Harwich Town & Dovercourt | 942 | 144 | First |
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.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
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