Crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester: statistics, rates and trends
503 crimes were recorded in Wivenhoe, Colchester in the 12 months to August 2026, 57.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Wivenhoe, Colchester
- Questions about crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (179), shoplifting (115) and other theft (45) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,712th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Wivenhoe, Colchester | Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 503 | 18,986 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 57.6 | 94.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +11% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 8,731 | 200,222 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester peaked in the year to August 2019 (616 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (389). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 503 | 57.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 454 | 52.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 389 | 44.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 548 | 62.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 512 | 58.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 542 | 62.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 545 | 62.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 616 | 70.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 414 | 47.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 44 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded notably more shoplifting (56% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (82% below) and criminal damage and arson (52% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 62 to 115 and other theft rose from 31 to 45, while criminal damage and arson fell from 38 to 28.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 179 | 20.5 | 34.2 | -9% |
| Shoplifting | 115 | 13.2 | 8.5 | +85% |
| Other theft | 45 | 5.2 | 6.4 | +45% |
| Vehicle crime | 42 | 4.8 | 5.0 | +31% |
| Public order | 31 | 3.6 | 6.7 | +35% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 28 | 3.2 | 6.7 | -26% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 24 | 2.7 | 15.4 | +14% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Wivenhoe, Colchester.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wivenhoe, Colchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old Heath and The Hythe | 1,007 | 84.9 | +47% |
| Greenstead | 2,458 | 149.6 | +160% |
| Berechurch | 1,019 | 86.3 | +50% |
| New Town and Christ Church | 1,915 | 119.6 | +108% |
| St Anne's and St John's | 757 | 69.5 | +21% |
| Castle | 3,520 | 290.4 | +404% |
| Shrub End | 1,138 | 86.8 | +51% |
| Highwoods | 829 | 76.0 | +32% |
The 10 locations below account for 65% of the crime recorded in Wivenhoe, Colchester over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (154).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 154 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 52 |
| On or near Parking Area | 26 |
| On or near Colchester Road | 19 |
| On or near Nelson Close | 19 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 14 |
| On or near Ernest Road | 14 |
| On or near Capon Road | 11 |
| On or near Wivenhoe Cross | 11 |
| On or near Charles Court | 7 |
Of the 479 crimes in Wivenhoe, Colchester with a recorded outcome, 42% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 24 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 200 | 41.8% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 145 | 30.3% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 40 | 8.4% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 35 | 7.3% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 3.5% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 3.1% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Wivenhoe, Colchester has an estimated population of 8,731 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (24.3%, against 7.9%), less social housing (4.4%, against 17.1%) and fewer residents with no qualifications (11%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wivenhoe, Colchester average decile 8.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Wivenhoe, Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 24.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 4.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Wivenhoe, Colchester a safe place to live?
Wivenhoe, Colchester recorded 57.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,712th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 179 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (115).
Is crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wivenhoe, Colchester was up 11% on the year before: 503 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 454 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wivenhoe, Colchester?
About 8,731 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wivenhoe, Colchester?
Wivenhoe, Colchester is policed by Essex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.