Crime in Bungay: statistics, rates and trends
280 crimes were recorded in Bungay in the 12 months to August 2026, 54.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (112), anti-social behaviour (61) and criminal damage and arson (44) made up 78% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,080th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Bungay | East Suffolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 280 | 14,335 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 54.0 | 57.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -13% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,182 | 249,664 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Bungay of any year here (280 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 33%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 280 | 54.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 322 | 62.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 370 | 71.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 370 | 71.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 385 | 74.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 356 | 68.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 335 | 64.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 425 | 82.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 418 | 80.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 18 |
| July 2026 | 36 |
| June 2026 | 23 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| April 2026 | 20 |
| March 2026 | 22 |
| February 2026 | 21 |
| January 2026 | 22 |
| December 2025 | 30 |
| November 2025 | 13 |
| October 2025 | 23 |
| September 2025 | 25 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bungay recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (26% above the national rate), and notably less violence and sexual offences (37% below) and anti-social behaviour (23% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 48 to 61, while violence and sexual offences fell from 153 to 112.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 112 | 21.6 | 34.2 | -27% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 61 | 11.8 | 15.4 | +27% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 44 | 8.5 | 6.7 | +5% |
| Other theft | 13 | 2.5 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 2.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 11 | 2.1 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 1.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 1.7 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Bungay; the highest is Lowestoft (90.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Long Stratton (28.8).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bungay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beccles | 637 | 62.0 | +15% |
| Harleston | 274 | 51.6 | -5% |
| Halesworth | 276 | 54.1 | 0% |
| Poringland | 264 | 37.6 | -30% |
| Long Stratton | 176 | 28.8 | -47% |
| Lowestoft | 6,485 | 90.8 | +68% |
| Brundall | 242 | 44.6 | -17% |
| Cringleford | 350 | 58.8 | +9% |
Bungay & Wainford is the one area listed within Bungay, with 40.9 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bungay & Wainford | Neighbourhood | 9,546 | 390 | 40.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 38% of the crime recorded in Bungay over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “St Marys Street” (23).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near St Marys Street | 23 |
| On or near Prince'S Road | 14 |
| On or near Parking Area | 12 |
| On or near Earsham Street | 10 |
| On or near Hillside Road West | 9 |
| On or near Cross Street | 8 |
| On or near Duke'S Road | 8 |
| On or near Jubilee Road | 8 |
| On or near Market Place | 8 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 7 |
Of the 219 crimes in Bungay with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 61 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 79 | 36.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 63 | 28.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 29 | 13.2% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 8.2% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 10 | 4.6% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 2.3% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.5% | 0.0% |
Bungay has an estimated population of 5,182 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%), more retired residents (33%, against 22%) and an older population (28%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bungay average decile 4.4 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Bungay | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 16.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bungay a safe place to live?
Bungay recorded 54.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,080th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Bungay?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 112 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (61).
Is crime in Bungay going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bungay was down 13% on the year before: 280 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 322 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bungay?
About 5,182 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bungay?
Bungay is policed by Suffolk.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.