Crime in Clacton-on-Sea: statistics, rates and trends
6,920 crimes were recorded in Clacton-on-Sea in the 12 months to July 2026, 124.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Clacton-on-Sea
- Questions about crime in Clacton-on-Sea
- About this data
6,920 crimes were recorded in Clacton-on-Sea in the 12 months to July 2026, 124.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher 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 3,103 reports (45% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Clacton-on-Sea has the 149th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Clacton-on-Sea | Tendring | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 6,920 | 14,639 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 124.5 | 93.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 55,568 | 156,759 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Clacton-on-Sea was highest in the year to July 2019 (8,823 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (6,533). Over the whole period it fell 17%, 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 | 6,920 | 124.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 6,841 | 123.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 6,533 | 117.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 7,145 | 128.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 7,820 | 140.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 8,537 | 153.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 8,483 | 152.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 8,823 | 158.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 8,309 | 149.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 551 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Clacton-on-Sea 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 violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+59%) and robbery (+45%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-36%) and bicycle theft (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,103 | 55.8 | 1.63 | -2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 763 | 13.7 | 0.90 | +42% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 568 | 10.2 | 1.51 | -7% |
| Other theft | 443 | 8.0 | 1.25 | +16% |
| Public order | 439 | 7.9 | 1.19 | -14% |
| Shoplifting | 422 | 7.6 | 0.92 | -36% |
| Vehicle crime | 386 | 6.9 | 1.41 | +59% |
| Drugs | 203 | 3.7 | 1.12 | +10% |
| Burglary | 186 | 3.3 | 0.95 | +16% |
| Other crime | 155 | 2.8 | 1.32 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 86 | 1.5 | 1.59 | -1% |
| Robbery | 80 | 1.4 | 1.07 | +45% |
| Theft from the person | 46 | 0.8 | 0.49 | +21% |
| Bicycle theft | 40 | 0.7 | 0.87 | -15% |
Violence and sexual offences in Clacton-on-Sea
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 3,103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (55.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 44.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Clacton-on-Sea
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 763 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Clacton-on-Sea
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 568 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Clacton-on-Sea
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 443 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Clacton-on-Sea
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 439 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Clacton-on-Sea
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 422 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Clacton-on-Sea
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 386 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 59% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Clacton-on-Sea
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 203 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Clacton-on-Sea
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Clacton-on-Sea
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 155 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Clacton-on-Sea
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 86 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Clacton-on-Sea
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 45% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Clacton-on-Sea
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Clacton-on-Sea
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Clacton-on-Sea recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Clacton-on-Sea, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Clacton-on-Sea.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Clacton-on-Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaywick | 847 | 159.2 | +28% |
| Frinton-on-Sea | 312 | 59.0 | -53% |
| Brightlingsea | 439 | 49.1 | -61% |
| Walton-on-the-Naze | 669 | 95.6 | -23% |
| Wivenhoe | 328 | 49.2 | -61% |
| West Mersea | 335 | 46.8 | -62% |
| Harwich | 2,128 | 98.0 | -21% |
| Lawford | 200 | 39.0 | -69% |
10 areas within Clacton-on-Sea, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. St James had the highest rate (294.4 per 1,000) and St Bartholomew's the lowest (57.5). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St James | Neighbourhood | 8,100 | 2,385 | 294.4 |
| Pier | Neighbourhood | 1,773 | 281 | 158.5 |
| St John's | Neighbourhood | 7,030 | 806 | 114.7 |
| Burrsville | Neighbourhood | 6,079 | 670 | 110.2 |
| Coppins | Neighbourhood | 8,805 | 927 | 105.3 |
| St Paul's | Neighbourhood | 3,050 | 301 | 98.7 |
| Bluehouse | Neighbourhood | 6,088 | 594 | 97.6 |
| Eastcliff | Neighbourhood | 3,443 | 253 | 73.5 |
| Cann Hall | Neighbourhood | 6,160 | 413 | 67.0 |
| St Bartholomew's | Neighbourhood | 5,040 | 290 | 57.5 |
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 Clacton-on-Sea over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 669 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 391 |
| On or near Supermarket | 277 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 177 |
| On or near Police Station | 176 |
| On or near Edith Road | 83 |
| On or near Pier Gap | 80 |
| On or near Jubilee Avenue | 80 |
| On or near B1369 | 74 |
| On or near Wellesley Road | 72 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Clacton-on-Sea 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,510 | 36.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,866 | 27.0% |
| Not recorded | 763 | 11.0% |
| Under investigation | 670 | 9.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 297 | 4.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 219 | 3.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 177 | 2.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 165 | 2.4% |
| Local resolution | 109 | 1.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 103 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 28 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.2% |
Clacton-on-Sea has an estimated population of 55,568. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Clacton-on-Sea sits in decile 2.5, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Clacton-on-Sea |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 54.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.7% |
| Social rented homes | 9.5% |
| Private rented homes | 22.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 33.2% |
Is Clacton-on-Sea a safe place to live?
Clacton-on-Sea recorded 124.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Clacton-on-Sea?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (763).
Is crime in Clacton-on-Sea going up or down?
Recorded crime in Clacton-on-Sea was up 1% on the year before: 6,920 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 6,841 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Clacton-on-Sea?
Clacton-on-Sea 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 Clacton-on-Sea. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.