Crime in Clacton-on-Sea: statistics, rates and trends
7,123 crimes were recorded in Clacton-on-Sea in the 12 months to August 2026, 128.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Clacton-on-Sea at a glance
- Crime trends in Clacton-on-Sea
- Types of crime in Clacton-on-Sea
- Clacton-on-Sea compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Clacton-on-Sea
- Streets with the most crime in Clacton-on-Sea
- What happened after crimes were reported in Clacton-on-Sea
- Demographics of Clacton-on-Sea
- Questions about crime in Clacton-on-Sea
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (3,166), anti-social behaviour (853) and criminal damage and arson (568) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 132nd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Clacton-on-Sea | Tendring | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 7,123 | 14,944 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 128.2 | 95.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 55,568 | 156,759 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Clacton-on-Sea peaked in the year to August 2019 (8,867 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (6,634). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 7,123 | 128.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 6,715 | 120.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 6,634 | 119.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 6,949 | 125.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 7,866 | 141.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 8,389 | 151.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 8,460 | 152.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 8,867 | 159.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 8,364 | 150.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 754 |
| July 2026 | 752 |
| June 2026 | 752 |
| May 2026 | 610 |
| April 2026 | 662 |
| March 2026 | 619 |
| February 2026 | 443 |
| January 2026 | 481 |
| December 2025 | 451 |
| November 2025 | 532 |
| October 2025 | 553 |
| September 2025 | 514 |
Compared with England and Wales, Clacton-on-Sea recorded notably more possession of weapons (67% above the national rate), violence and sexual offences (66% above the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (52% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (58% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 229 to 388 and anti-social behaviour rose from 536 to 853, while shoplifting fell from 614 to 416.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,166 | 57.0 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 853 | 15.4 | 15.4 | +59% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 568 | 10.2 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Other theft | 458 | 8.2 | 6.4 | +21% |
| Public order | 448 | 8.1 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Shoplifting | 416 | 7.5 | 8.5 | -32% |
| Vehicle crime | 388 | 7.0 | 5.0 | +69% |
| Drugs | 205 | 3.7 | 3.3 | +18% |
| Burglary | 183 | 3.3 | 3.6 | +14% |
| Other crime | 173 | 3.1 | 2.1 | +9% |
| Possession of weapons | 90 | 1.6 | 1.0 | +3% |
| Robbery | 87 | 1.6 | 1.4 | +55% |
| Bicycle theft | 49 | 0.9 | 0.8 | -2% |
| Theft from the person | 39 | 0.7 | 1.7 | -11% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Clacton-on-Sea; the highest is Jaywick (156.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Lawford (39.4).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Clacton-on-Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaywick | 834 | 156.8 | +22% |
| Frinton-on-Sea | 310 | 58.6 | -54% |
| Brightlingsea | 418 | 46.8 | -64% |
| Walton-on-the-Naze | 681 | 97.3 | -24% |
| Wivenhoe | 353 | 52.9 | -59% |
| West Mersea | 322 | 45.0 | -65% |
| Harwich | 2,204 | 101.5 | -21% |
| Lawford | 202 | 39.4 | -69% |
Of the 10 areas within Clacton-on-Sea, St James had the highest crime rate (301.7 per 1,000) and St Bartholomew's the lowest (57.5), 5 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St James | Neighbourhood | 8,100 | 2,444 | 301.7 |
| Pier | Neighbourhood | 1,773 | 296 | 166.9 |
| St John's | Neighbourhood | 7,030 | 829 | 117.9 |
| Burrsville | Neighbourhood | 6,079 | 699 | 115.0 |
| Coppins | Neighbourhood | 8,805 | 958 | 108.8 |
| Bluehouse | Neighbourhood | 6,088 | 631 | 103.6 |
| St Paul's | Neighbourhood | 3,050 | 299 | 98.0 |
| Eastcliff | Neighbourhood | 3,443 | 259 | 75.2 |
| Cann Hall | Neighbourhood | 6,160 | 418 | 67.9 |
| St Bartholomew's | Neighbourhood | 5,040 | 290 | 57.5 |
The 10 locations below account for 30% of the crime recorded in Clacton-on-Sea over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (707).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 707 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 424 |
| On or near Supermarket | 280 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 177 |
| On or near Police Station | 176 |
| On or near Pier Gap | 82 |
| On or near Edith Road | 81 |
| On or near B1369 | 78 |
| On or near Jubilee Avenue | 76 |
| On or near Wellesley Road | 67 |
Of the 6,270 crimes in Clacton-on-Sea with a recorded outcome, 31% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 853 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,558 | 40.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,932 | 30.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 658 | 10.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 303 | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 238 | 3.8% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 169 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 155 | 2.5% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 113 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 105 | 1.7% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 26 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% | 0.5% |
Clacton-on-Sea has an estimated population of 55,568 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (30%, against 18%), more retired residents (35%, against 22%) and an older population (29%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Clacton-on-Sea average decile 2.5 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Clacton-on-Sea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 43.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 34.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 16.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 30.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 25.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 22.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.5 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 33.2% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Clacton-on-Sea a safe place to live?
Clacton-on-Sea recorded 128.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 132nd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were possession of weapons and violence and sexual offences.
What is the most common crime in Clacton-on-Sea?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,166 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (853).
Is crime in Clacton-on-Sea going up or down?
Recorded crime in Clacton-on-Sea was up 6% on the year before: 7,123 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 6,715 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Clacton-on-Sea?
About 55,568 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Clacton-on-Sea?
Clacton-on-Sea 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.