Crime in Berechurch, Colchester: statistics, rates and trends
1,019 crimes were recorded in Berechurch, Colchester in the 12 months to August 2026, 86.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Berechurch, Colchester at a glance
- Crime trends in Berechurch, Colchester
- Types of crime in Berechurch, Colchester
- Berechurch, Colchester compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Berechurch, Colchester
- What happened after crimes were reported in Berechurch, Colchester
- Demographics of Berechurch, Colchester
- Questions about crime in Berechurch, Colchester
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (494), anti-social behaviour (137) and other theft (77) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,626th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Berechurch, Colchester | Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,019 | 18,986 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 86.3 | 94.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 11,811 | 200,222 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Berechurch, Colchester peaked in the year to August 2020 (1,399 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (893). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 23%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,019 | 86.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,002 | 84.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 893 | 75.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,025 | 86.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,210 | 102.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,354 | 114.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,399 | 118.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,346 | 114.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,318 | 111.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 78 |
| July 2026 | 93 |
| June 2026 | 91 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 87 |
| March 2026 | 91 |
| February 2026 | 84 |
| January 2026 | 89 |
| December 2025 | 83 |
| November 2025 | 83 |
| October 2025 | 81 |
| September 2025 | 82 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and burglary (43% below) and drugs (25% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 90 to 137 and other theft rose from 63 to 77, while burglary fell from 32 to 24 and criminal damage and arson fell from 91 to 71.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 494 | 41.8 | 34.2 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 137 | 11.6 | 15.4 | +52% |
| Other theft | 77 | 6.5 | 6.4 | +22% |
| Public order | 72 | 6.1 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 71 | 6.0 | 6.7 | -22% |
| Vehicle crime | 55 | 4.7 | 5.0 | -2% |
| Drugs | 29 | 2.5 | 3.3 | +16% |
| Burglary | 24 | 2.0 | 3.6 | -25% |
| Other crime | 23 | 1.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 0.9 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 0.8 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Berechurch, Colchester; the highest is Castle, Colchester (290.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Prettygate (55.7).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Berechurch, Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Heath and The Hythe | 1,007 | 84.9 | -2% |
| Shrub End | 1,138 | 86.8 | +1% |
| New Town and Christ Church | 1,915 | 119.6 | +39% |
| Castle | 3,520 | 290.4 | +237% |
| Greenstead | 2,458 | 149.6 | +73% |
| Wivenhoe | 503 | 57.6 | -33% |
| Prettygate | 648 | 55.7 | -35% |
| St Anne's and St John's | 757 | 69.5 | -19% |
The 10 locations below account for 31% of the crime recorded in Berechurch, Colchester over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Boyles Court” (45).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Boyles Court | 45 |
| On or near Stansted Road | 43 |
| On or near Queen Elizabeth Way | 41 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 36 |
| On or near Bevan Close | 27 |
| On or near Garrod Court | 26 |
| On or near Bardfield Road | 25 |
| On or near West Donyland Court | 25 |
| On or near Sandringham Drive | 24 |
| On or near Terling Close | 24 |
Of the 882 crimes in Berechurch, Colchester with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 137 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 398 | 45.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 236 | 26.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 73 | 8.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 42 | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 41 | 4.6% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 34 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 27 | 3.1% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Berechurch, Colchester has an estimated population of 11,811 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%), more children (23%, against 18%) and fewer retired residents (16%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Berechurch, Colchester average decile 3.7 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Berechurch, Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 16.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Berechurch, Colchester a safe place to live?
Berechurch, Colchester recorded 86.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,626th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Berechurch, Colchester?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 494 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (137).
Is crime in Berechurch, Colchester going up or down?
Recorded crime in Berechurch, Colchester was up 2% on the year before: 1,019 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,002 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Berechurch, Colchester?
About 11,811 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Berechurch, Colchester?
Berechurch, Colchester is policed by Essex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.