Crime in Kirkley & Pakefield: statistics, rates and trends
1,270 crimes were recorded in Kirkley & Pakefield in the 12 months to August 2026, 92.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Kirkley & Pakefield at a glance
- Crime trends in Kirkley & Pakefield
- Types of crime in Kirkley & Pakefield
- Kirkley & Pakefield compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Kirkley & Pakefield
- What happened after crimes were reported in Kirkley & Pakefield
- Demographics of Kirkley & Pakefield
- Questions about crime in Kirkley & Pakefield
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (575), criminal damage and arson (180) and anti-social behaviour (114) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,429th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Kirkley & Pakefield | East Suffolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,270 | 14,335 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 92.3 | 57.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +9% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 13,759 | 249,664 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Kirkley & Pakefield peaked in the year to August 2022 (1,924 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (1,162). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 27%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,270 | 92.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,162 | 84.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,496 | 108.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,726 | 125.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,924 | 139.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,677 | 121.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,574 | 114.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,725 | 125.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,731 | 125.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 108 |
| July 2026 | 135 |
| June 2026 | 156 |
| May 2026 | 120 |
| April 2026 | 96 |
| March 2026 | 119 |
| February 2026 | 89 |
| January 2026 | 92 |
| December 2025 | 81 |
| November 2025 | 87 |
| October 2025 | 90 |
| September 2025 | 97 |
Compared with England and Wales, Kirkley & Pakefield recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (94% above the national rate), and notably less drugs (47% below) and anti-social behaviour (46% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 24 to 53 and criminal damage and arson rose from 132 to 180, while drugs fell from 36 to 24 and burglary fell from 44 to 30.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 575 | 41.8 | 34.2 | +11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 180 | 13.1 | 6.7 | +36% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 114 | 8.3 | 15.4 | -5% |
| Public order | 75 | 5.5 | 6.7 | +25% |
| Shoplifting | 72 | 5.2 | 8.5 | -5% |
| Other theft | 65 | 4.7 | 6.4 | -8% |
| Vehicle crime | 53 | 3.9 | 5.0 | +121% |
| Burglary | 30 | 2.2 | 3.6 | -32% |
| Other crime | 28 | 2.0 | 2.1 | -28% |
| Drugs | 24 | 1.7 | 3.3 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 19 | 1.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 18 | 1.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 13 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Kirkley & Pakefield; the highest is Harbour & Normanston (187.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Carlton Colville (35.7).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kirkley & Pakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton & Whitton | 484 | 55.7 | -40% |
| Carlton Colville | 300 | 35.7 | -61% |
| Harbour & Normanston | 3,036 | 187.7 | +103% |
| Oulton Broad | 680 | 46.5 | -50% |
| Gunton & St Margarets | 715 | 73.3 | -21% |
| Kessingland | 346 | 68.0 | -26% |
| Lothingland | 167 | 45.3 | -51% |
| Beccles & Worlingham | 741 | 50.2 | -46% |
The 10 locations below account for 36% of the crime recorded in Kirkley & Pakefield over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (106).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 106 |
| On or near Parking Area | 98 |
| On or near Mill Road | 50 |
| On or near Parade Road North | 35 |
| On or near Pier Terrace | 32 |
| On or near Birds Lane | 30 |
| On or near Notley Road | 28 |
| On or near Kirkley Rise | 27 |
| On or near Cleveland Road | 26 |
| On or near Durban Road | 25 |
Of the 1,156 crimes in Kirkley & Pakefield with a recorded outcome, 28% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 114 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 341 | 29.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 327 | 28.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 171 | 14.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 88 | 7.6% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 76 | 6.6% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 55 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 47 | 4.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 31 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 14 | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
Kirkley & Pakefield has an estimated population of 13,759 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (29%, against 19%), more retired residents (31%, against 22%) and fewer students (4.4%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Kirkley & Pakefield average decile 3.4 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Kirkley & Pakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 31.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 20.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 27.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 59.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 26.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.4 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 19.7% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Kirkley & Pakefield a safe place to live?
Kirkley & Pakefield recorded 92.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,429th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Kirkley & Pakefield?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 575 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (180).
Is crime in Kirkley & Pakefield going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kirkley & Pakefield was up 9% on the year before: 1,270 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,162 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Kirkley & Pakefield?
About 13,759 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Kirkley & Pakefield?
Kirkley & Pakefield is policed by Suffolk.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.