Crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester: statistics, rates and trends
481 crimes were recorded in Wivenhoe, Colchester in the 12 months to July 2026, 55.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester at a glance
- Crime trends in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- Types of crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- Wivenhoe, Colchester compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- Population and deprivation in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- Questions about crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- About this data
481 crimes were recorded in Wivenhoe, Colchester in the 12 months to July 2026, 55.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 180 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Wivenhoe, Colchester has the 2,813th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Wivenhoe, Colchester | Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 481 | 18,889 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 55.1 | 94.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 8,731 | 200,222 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester was highest in the year to July 2019 (614 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (376). Over the whole period it rose 19%, 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 | 481 | 55.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 472 | 54.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 376 | 43.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 555 | 63.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 506 | 58.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 545 | 62.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 556 | 63.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 614 | 70.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 404 | 46.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 44 |
| June 2026 | 35 |
| May 2026 | 47 |
| April 2026 | 36 |
| March 2026 | 39 |
| February 2026 | 41 |
| January 2026 | 49 |
| December 2025 | 36 |
| November 2025 | 50 |
| October 2025 | 54 |
| September 2025 | 28 |
| August 2025 | 22 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Wivenhoe, Colchester 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 shoplifting.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+62%) and public order (+35%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-74%) and burglary (-62%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 180 | 20.6 | 0.60 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 99 | 11.3 | 1.37 | +62% |
| Other theft | 42 | 4.8 | 0.75 | +24% |
| Vehicle crime | 42 | 4.8 | 0.98 | +14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 31 | 3.6 | 0.52 | -11% |
| Public order | 31 | 3.6 | 0.53 | +35% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 19 | 2.2 | 0.14 | -14% |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.4 | 0.42 | +33% |
| Burglary | 8 | 0.9 | 0.26 | -62% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.7 | 0.83 | -74% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.6 | 0.27 | -17% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 0.20 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 0.24 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 180 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 37.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 99 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 20.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 35% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 74% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Wivenhoe, Colchester
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Wivenhoe, Colchester, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Wivenhoe, Colchester.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wivenhoe, Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Heath and The Hythe | 1,030 | 86.8 | +58% |
| Greenstead | 2,435 | 148.2 | +169% |
| Berechurch | 1,049 | 88.8 | +61% |
| New Town and Christ Church | 1,906 | 119.0 | +116% |
| St Anne's and St John's | 741 | 68.0 | +23% |
| Castle | 3,485 | 287.5 | +422% |
| Shrub End | 1,155 | 88.1 | +60% |
| Highwoods | 827 | 75.8 | +38% |
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 Wivenhoe, Colchester over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 140 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 49 |
| On or near Parking Area | 26 |
| On or near Nelson Close | 19 |
| On or near Colchester Road | 17 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 13 |
| On or near Capon Road | 11 |
| On or near Ernest Road | 11 |
| On or near Wivenhoe Cross | 9 |
| On or near Grasby Close | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wivenhoe, Colchester 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 | 191 | 39.7% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 146 | 30.4% |
| Under investigation | 41 | 8.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 38 | 7.9% |
| Not recorded | 19 | 4.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 15 | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 2.1% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Wivenhoe, Colchester has an estimated population of 8,731. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wivenhoe, Colchester sits in decile 8.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Wivenhoe, Colchester |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.8% |
| Social rented homes | 4.4% |
| Private rented homes | 17.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.5 |
Is Wivenhoe, Colchester a safe place to live?
Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 55.1 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 Wivenhoe, Colchester?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 180 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (99).
Is crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester was up 2% on the year before: 481 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 472 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Wivenhoe, Colchester?
Wivenhoe, Colchester 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 Wivenhoe, Colchester. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.