Crime in East of England: statistics, rates and trends

526,234 crimes were recorded in East of England in the 12 months to July 2026, 80.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 202,199 reports (38% of the total).

Of the 9 regions covered by this site, East of England has the 9th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in East of England was highest in the year to July 2019 (607,627 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (519,199). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in East of England 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. The largest increases were in drugs (+26%) and possession of weapons (+11%).

Violence and sexual offences in East of England

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East of England recorded 202,199 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 38.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in East of England

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East of England recorded 77,374 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 14.7% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in East of England

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East of England recorded 43,503 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in East of England

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East of England recorded 40,150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in East of England

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East of England recorded 35,162 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in East of England

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East of England recorded 32,133 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in East of England

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East of England recorded 27,390 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in East of England

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East of England recorded 19,178 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in East of England

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East of England recorded 17,149 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in East of England

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East of England recorded 12,493 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in East of England

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East of England recorded 6,136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in East of England

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East of England recorded 5,219 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in East of England

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. East of England recorded 4,602 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in East of England

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East of England recorded 3,546 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the regions closest to East of England, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East of England.

11 areas within East of England, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Peterborough had the highest rate (124.6 per 1,000) and Central Bedfordshire the lowest (60.8). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East of England 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.

East of England has an estimated population of 6,576,306. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East of England sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 East of England. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.