Crime in Southwold: statistics, rates and trends
169 crimes were recorded in Southwold in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 25% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Southwold at a glance
- Crime trends in Southwold
- Types of crime in Southwold
- Southwold compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Southwold
- What happened after crimes were reported in Southwold
- Population and deprivation in Southwold
- Questions about crime in Southwold
- About this data
169 crimes were recorded in Southwold in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 25% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 61 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Southwold has the 3,093rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Southwold | East Suffolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 169 | 14,380 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.3 | 57.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -25% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 3,501 | 249,664 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Southwold was highest in the year to July 2025 (225 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (144). Over the whole period it fell 17%, 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 | 169 | 48.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 225 | 64.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 163 | 46.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 153 | 43.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 159 | 45.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 170 | 48.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 144 | 41.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 175 | 50.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 203 | 58.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 25 |
| June 2026 | 16 |
| May 2026 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 18 |
| March 2026 | 21 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 7 |
| December 2025 | 8 |
| November 2025 | 8 |
| October 2025 | 10 |
| September 2025 | 8 |
| August 2025 | 16 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Southwold 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 bicycle theft. The largest falls were in burglary (-78%) and other theft (-43%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 61 | 17.4 | 0.51 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 26 | 7.4 | 0.48 | -10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 23 | 6.6 | 0.97 | -34% |
| Public order | 18 | 5.1 | 0.77 | +38% |
| Other theft | 13 | 3.7 | 0.58 | -43% |
| Burglary | 7 | 2.0 | 0.57 | -78% |
| Other crime | 5 | 1.4 | 0.68 | +150% |
| Shoplifting | 5 | 1.4 | 0.17 | +150% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 1.1 | 1.39 | +300% |
| Drugs | 4 | 1.1 | 0.35 | +33% |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 0.29 | +0% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.3 | 0.21 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 1 | 0.3 | 0.06 | -92% |
Violence and sexual offences in Southwold
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Southwold recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 36.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Southwold
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Southwold recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 15.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Southwold
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Southwold recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 13.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Southwold
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Southwold recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 10.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Southwold
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Southwold recorded 13 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 43% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Southwold
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Southwold recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 78% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Southwold
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Southwold recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Southwold
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Southwold recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Southwold
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Southwold recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Southwold
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Southwold recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Southwold
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Southwold recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Southwold
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Southwold recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Southwold
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Southwold recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 92% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Southwold, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Southwold.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Southwold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wrentham, Wangford & Westleton | 165 | 36.2 | -25% |
| Kessingland | 346 | 68.0 | +41% |
| Halesworth & Blything | 489 | 52.9 | +10% |
| Carlton Colville | 289 | 34.3 | -29% |
| Beccles & Worlingham | 755 | 51.1 | +6% |
| Carlton & Whitton | 474 | 54.5 | +13% |
| Kirkley & Pakefield | 1,255 | 91.2 | +89% |
| Kelsale & Yoxford | 138 | 39.7 | -18% |
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 Southwold over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Moyse Avenue | 14 |
| On or near Station Road | 13 |
| On or near Parking Area | 7 |
| On or near Mount Pleasant | 6 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 6 |
| On or near Cautley Road | 6 |
| On or near Blyth Road | 6 |
| On or near Green Lane | 5 |
| On or near Green Lane Close | 5 |
| On or near Bartholomew Green | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Southwold 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 | 45 | 26.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 38 | 22.5% |
| Under investigation | 29 | 17.2% |
| Not recorded | 26 | 15.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 7.1% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 5.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 3.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 1.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.6% |
Southwold has an estimated population of 3,501. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Southwold sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Southwold |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 12.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 44.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 43.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.9% |
| Social rented homes | 16.4% |
| Private rented homes | 10.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 |
Is Southwold a safe place to live?
Southwold recorded 48.3 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 Southwold?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (26).
Is crime in Southwold going up or down?
Recorded crime in Southwold was down 25% on the year before: 169 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 225 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Southwold?
Southwold is policed by Suffolk. 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 Southwold. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.