Crime in New Town and Christ Church: statistics, rates and trends
1,906 crimes were recorded in New Town and Christ Church in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 20% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in New Town and Christ Church at a glance
- Crime trends in New Town and Christ Church
- Types of crime in New Town and Christ Church
- New Town and Christ Church compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in New Town and Christ Church
- What happened after crimes were reported in New Town and Christ Church
- Population and deprivation in New Town and Christ Church
- Questions about crime in New Town and Christ Church
- About this data
1,906 crimes were recorded in New Town and Christ Church in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 20% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 808 reports (42% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, New Town and Christ Church has the 837th highest crime rate.
| Measure | New Town and Christ Church | Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,906 | 18,889 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 119.0 | 94.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +20% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 16,016 | 200,222 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in New Town and Christ Church was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,529 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,593). Over the whole period it fell 5%, 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 | 1,906 | 119.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,593 | 99.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,613 | 100.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,050 | 128.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,971 | 123.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,335 | 145.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,529 | 157.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,324 | 145.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,999 | 124.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 212 |
| June 2026 | 182 |
| May 2026 | 151 |
| April 2026 | 179 |
| March 2026 | 174 |
| February 2026 | 168 |
| January 2026 | 134 |
| December 2025 | 117 |
| November 2025 | 138 |
| October 2025 | 161 |
| September 2025 | 118 |
| August 2025 | 172 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in New Town and Christ Church 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 violence and sexual offences, shoplifting, public order.
The largest increases were in other crime (+81%) and anti-social behaviour (+39%). The largest falls were in burglary (-40%) and vehicle crime (-12%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 808 | 50.4 | 1.47 | +29% |
| Shoplifting | 262 | 16.4 | 1.97 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 163 | 10.2 | 0.66 | +39% |
| Public order | 150 | 9.4 | 1.41 | +26% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 125 | 7.8 | 1.15 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 102 | 6.4 | 1.29 | -12% |
| Other theft | 91 | 5.7 | 0.89 | +17% |
| Drugs | 76 | 4.7 | 1.45 | +15% |
| Other crime | 38 | 2.4 | 1.12 | +81% |
| Burglary | 27 | 1.7 | 0.48 | -40% |
| Robbery | 22 | 1.4 | 1.02 | +38% |
| Possession of weapons | 18 | 1.1 | 1.16 | +50% |
| Bicycle theft | 12 | 0.7 | 0.91 | -25% |
| Theft from the person | 12 | 0.7 | 0.44 | -8% |
Violence and sexual offences in New Town and Christ Church
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. New Town and Christ Church recorded 808 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (50.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 42.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in New Town and Christ Church
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. New Town and Christ Church recorded 262 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 13.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in New Town and Christ Church
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. New Town and Christ Church recorded 163 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in New Town and Christ Church
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. New Town and Christ Church recorded 150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in New Town and Christ Church
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. New Town and Christ Church recorded 125 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in New Town and Christ Church
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. New Town and Christ Church recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in New Town and Christ Church
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. New Town and Christ Church recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in New Town and Christ Church
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. New Town and Christ Church recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in New Town and Christ Church
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. New Town and Christ Church recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 81% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in New Town and Christ Church
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. New Town and Christ Church recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in New Town and Christ Church
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. New Town and Christ Church recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in New Town and Christ Church
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. New Town and Christ Church recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in New Town and Christ Church
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. New Town and Christ Church recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in New Town and Christ Church
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. New Town and Christ Church recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to New Town and Christ Church, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to New Town and Christ Church.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs New Town and Christ Church |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castle | 3,485 | 287.5 | +142% |
| Berechurch | 1,049 | 88.8 | -25% |
| Old Heath and The Hythe | 1,030 | 86.8 | -27% |
| Shrub End | 1,155 | 88.1 | -26% |
| Greenstead | 2,435 | 148.2 | +25% |
| St Anne's and St John's | 741 | 68.0 | -43% |
| Prettygate | 632 | 54.3 | -54% |
| Mile End | 1,749 | 120.5 | +1% |
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 New Town and Christ Church over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Police Station | 329 |
| On or near Supermarket | 296 |
| On or near Simons Lane Magdalen Green | 47 |
| On or near St Helena Road | 43 |
| On or near Kendall Road | 41 |
| On or near Golden Noble Hill | 38 |
| On or near Artillery Barracks Folley | 36 |
| On or near Stable Road | 34 |
| On or near Shrubland Road | 32 |
| On or near Albion Grove | 30 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in New Town and Christ Church 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 586 | 30.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 533 | 28.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 194 | 10.2% |
| Under investigation | 167 | 8.8% |
| Not recorded | 163 | 8.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 77 | 4.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 54 | 2.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 53 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 35 | 1.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 29 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
New Town and Christ Church has an estimated population of 16,016. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in New Town and Christ Church sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | New Town and Christ Church |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 69.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 54.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.7% |
| Private rented homes | 35.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
Is New Town and Christ Church a safe place to live?
New Town and Christ Church recorded 119.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 New Town and Christ Church?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 808 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (262).
Is crime in New Town and Christ Church going up or down?
Recorded crime in New Town and Christ Church was up 20% on the year before: 1,906 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,593 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers New Town and Christ Church?
New Town and Christ Church 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 New Town and Christ Church. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.