Crime in Lakenheath: statistics, rates and trends
244 crimes were recorded in Lakenheath in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 57% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Lakenheath at a glance
- Crime trends in Lakenheath
- Types of crime in Lakenheath
- Lakenheath compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Lakenheath
- Streets with the most crime in Lakenheath
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lakenheath
- Population and deprivation in Lakenheath
- Questions about crime in Lakenheath
- About this data
244 crimes were recorded in Lakenheath in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 57% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 103 reports (42% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Lakenheath has the 1,186th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Lakenheath | West Suffolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 244 | 11,384 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.2 | 60.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +57% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 5,059 | 188,485 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Lakenheath was highest in the year to July 2026 (244 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (100). Over the whole period it rose 77%, 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 | 244 | 48.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 155 | 30.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 196 | 38.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 121 | 23.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 100 | 19.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 139 | 27.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 127 | 25.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 116 | 22.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 138 | 27.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 25 |
| May 2026 | 25 |
| April 2026 | 20 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| January 2026 | 19 |
| December 2025 | 20 |
| November 2025 | 18 |
| October 2025 | 17 |
| September 2025 | 25 |
| August 2025 | 23 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Lakenheath 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 possession of weapons. The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+37%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 103 | 20.4 | 0.59 | +37% |
| Other theft | 25 | 4.9 | 0.77 | +56% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 22 | 4.3 | 0.64 | +38% |
| Burglary | 21 | 4.2 | 1.17 | +40% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 14 | 2.8 | 0.18 | +100% |
| Vehicle crime | 13 | 2.6 | 0.52 | +86% |
| Other crime | 12 | 2.4 | 1.12 | +71% |
| Drugs | 10 | 2.0 | 0.60 | +233% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 1.8 | 1.83 | +350% |
| Public order | 9 | 1.8 | 0.27 | +80% |
| Shoplifting | 3 | 0.6 | 0.07 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.4 | 0.23 | +0% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.15 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Lakenheath
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Lakenheath recorded 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 37% on the year before. It made up 42.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Lakenheath
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Lakenheath recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Lakenheath
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Lakenheath recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Lakenheath
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Lakenheath recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Lakenheath
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Lakenheath recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Lakenheath
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Lakenheath recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 86% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Lakenheath
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Lakenheath recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 71% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Lakenheath
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Lakenheath recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 233% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Lakenheath
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Lakenheath recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 350% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Lakenheath
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Lakenheath recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 80% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Lakenheath
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Lakenheath recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Lakenheath
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Lakenheath recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Lakenheath
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Lakenheath recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Lakenheath, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Lakenheath.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lakenheath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beck Row | 227 | 44.1 | -9% |
| Brandon (West Suffolk) | 666 | 68.2 | +41% |
| Mildenhall (West Suffolk) | 732 | 80.4 | +67% |
| Red Lodge | 292 | 41.0 | -15% |
| Thetford | 2,415 | 95.5 | +98% |
| Soham | 709 | 58.5 | +21% |
| Littleport | 651 | 74.7 | +55% |
| Ely | 1,640 | 80.7 | +67% |
1 areas within Lakenheath, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Lakenheath had the highest rate (30.7 per 1,000) and Lakenheath the lowest (30.7). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakenheath | Neighbourhood | 9,291 | 285 | 30.7 |
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 Lakenheath over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Bell Trees | 25 |
| On or near Avenue Road | 11 |
| On or near Supermarket | 11 |
| On or near Magnolia Drive | 10 |
| On or near Albert Rolph Drive | 9 |
| On or near Wings Road Close | 8 |
| On or near Roebuck Drive | 7 |
| On or near B1112 | 6 |
| On or near Caudle Avenue | 6 |
| On or near Saxon Place | 6 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Lakenheath 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 | 79 | 32.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 75 | 30.7% |
| Under investigation | 38 | 15.6% |
| Not recorded | 14 | 5.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 3.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 3.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 3.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 3.3% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% |
Lakenheath has an estimated population of 5,059. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Lakenheath sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Lakenheath |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.9% |
| Private rented homes | 27.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
Is Lakenheath a safe place to live?
Lakenheath recorded 48.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Lakenheath?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by other theft (25).
Is crime in Lakenheath going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lakenheath was up 57% on the year before: 244 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 155 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Lakenheath?
Lakenheath is policed by Suffolk. 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 Lakenheath. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.