Crime in East Suffolk: statistics, rates and trends

14,380 crimes were recorded in East Suffolk in the 12 months to July 2026, 57.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 6,177 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, East Suffolk has the 277th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in East Suffolk was highest in the year to July 2022 (19,306 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (14,053). Over the whole period it fell 20%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in East Suffolk over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in possession of weapons (+33%) and vehicle crime (+27%). The largest falls were in public order (-12%) and shoplifting (-11%).

Violence and sexual offences in East Suffolk

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East Suffolk recorded 6,177 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (24.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 43.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in East Suffolk

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East Suffolk recorded 1,557 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in East Suffolk

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East Suffolk recorded 1,497 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in East Suffolk

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East Suffolk recorded 974 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in East Suffolk

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East Suffolk recorded 921 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in East Suffolk

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East Suffolk recorded 750 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in East Suffolk

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East Suffolk recorded 601 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in East Suffolk

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East Suffolk recorded 581 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in East Suffolk

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East Suffolk recorded 553 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in East Suffolk

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East Suffolk recorded 322 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in East Suffolk

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East Suffolk recorded 181 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in East Suffolk

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East Suffolk recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in East Suffolk

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. East Suffolk recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in East Suffolk

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East Suffolk recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to East Suffolk, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East Suffolk.

59 areas within East Suffolk, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Harbour & Normanston had the highest rate (188.5 per 1,000) and Rushmere St Andrew the lowest (12.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in East Suffolk over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East Suffolk over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

East Suffolk has an estimated population of 249,664. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East Suffolk sits in decile 5.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to East Suffolk. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.