Crime in Marks Tey and Layer: statistics, rates and trends
735 crimes were recorded in Marks Tey and Layer in the 12 months to July 2026, 68.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Marks Tey and Layer at a glance
- Crime trends in Marks Tey and Layer
- Types of crime in Marks Tey and Layer
- Marks Tey and Layer compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Marks Tey and Layer
- What happened after crimes were reported in Marks Tey and Layer
- Population and deprivation in Marks Tey and Layer
- Questions about crime in Marks Tey and Layer
- About this data
735 crimes were recorded in Marks Tey and Layer in the 12 months to July 2026, 68.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 22% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 264 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Marks Tey and Layer has the 2,273rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Marks Tey and Layer | Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 735 | 18,889 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 68.7 | 94.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +22% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 10,702 | 200,222 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Marks Tey and Layer was highest in the year to July 2026 (735 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (544). Over the whole period it rose 31%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 735 | 68.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 602 | 56.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 711 | 66.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 601 | 56.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 544 | 50.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 565 | 52.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 667 | 62.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 690 | 64.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 559 | 52.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 85 |
| June 2026 | 80 |
| May 2026 | 52 |
| April 2026 | 58 |
| March 2026 | 74 |
| February 2026 | 37 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 48 |
| November 2025 | 61 |
| October 2025 | 77 |
| September 2025 | 60 |
| August 2025 | 61 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Marks Tey and Layer 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. Rates were well above the national level for vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+106%) and vehicle crime (+80%). The largest falls were in burglary (-37%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 264 | 24.7 | 0.72 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 97 | 9.1 | 0.59 | +106% |
| Shoplifting | 95 | 8.9 | 1.07 | +10% |
| Vehicle crime | 72 | 6.7 | 1.37 | +80% |
| Other theft | 56 | 5.2 | 0.82 | +22% |
| Public order | 41 | 3.8 | 0.58 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 40 | 3.7 | 0.55 | +25% |
| Other crime | 23 | 2.1 | 1.02 | +92% |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.6 | 0.45 | -37% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.0 | 0.31 | -21% |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 0.9 | 1.14 | +233% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 0.58 | +0% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 0.21 | +200% |
Violence and sexual offences in Marks Tey and Layer
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 264 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 10% on the year before. It made up 35.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Marks Tey and Layer
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 106% on the year before. It made up 13.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Marks Tey and Layer
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 12.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Marks Tey and Layer
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 80% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Marks Tey and Layer
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Marks Tey and Layer
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Marks Tey and Layer
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Marks Tey and Layer
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 92% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Marks Tey and Layer
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Marks Tey and Layer
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Marks Tey and Layer
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 233% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Marks Tey and Layer
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Marks Tey and Layer
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Marks Tey and Layer recorded 3 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 200% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Marks Tey and Layer, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Marks Tey and Layer.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Marks Tey and Layer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanway | 855 | 84.4 | +23% |
| Prettygate | 632 | 54.3 | -21% |
| Shrub End | 1,155 | 88.1 | +28% |
| Lexden and Braiswick | 428 | 47.1 | -31% |
| Berechurch | 1,049 | 88.8 | +29% |
| New Town and Christ Church | 1,906 | 119.0 | +73% |
| Castle | 3,485 | 287.5 | +319% |
| Mile End | 1,749 | 120.5 | +76% |
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 Marks Tey and Layer over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Lemur Lane | 83 |
| On or near Christopher Garnett Chase | 45 |
| On or near B1408 | 43 |
| On or near Waterworks Close | 27 |
| On or near Parking Area | 23 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 22 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 19 |
| On or near Finch Road | 17 |
| On or near Wombat Street | 16 |
| On or near Meerkat Mews | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Marks Tey and Layer 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 228 | 31.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 222 | 30.2% |
| Not recorded | 97 | 13.2% |
| Under investigation | 71 | 9.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 37 | 5.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 22 | 3.0% |
| Local resolution | 15 | 2.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 15 | 2.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 1.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 11 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Marks Tey and Layer has an estimated population of 10,702. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Marks Tey and Layer sits in decile 6.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Marks Tey and Layer |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 80.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.3% |
| Private rented homes | 11.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.8 |
Is Marks Tey and Layer a safe place to live?
Marks Tey and Layer recorded 68.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Marks Tey and Layer?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 264 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (97).
Is crime in Marks Tey and Layer going up or down?
Recorded crime in Marks Tey and Layer was up 22% on the year before: 735 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 602 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Marks Tey and Layer?
Marks Tey and Layer is policed by Essex. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Marks Tey and Layer. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.