Crime in Leiston: statistics, rates and trends
382 crimes were recorded in Leiston in the 12 months to August 2026, 73.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 27% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (204), criminal damage and arson (47) and anti-social behaviour (26) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 724th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Leiston | East Suffolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 382 | 14,335 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.3 | 57.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +27% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 5,215 | 249,664 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Leiston peaked in the year to August 2022 (418 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (301). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 13%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 382 | 73.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 301 | 57.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 352 | 67.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 377 | 72.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 418 | 80.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 352 | 67.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 374 | 71.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 360 | 69.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 338 | 64.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 31 |
| July 2026 | 35 |
| June 2026 | 52 |
| May 2026 | 36 |
| April 2026 | 27 |
| March 2026 | 31 |
| February 2026 | 28 |
| January 2026 | 27 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 21 |
| October 2025 | 27 |
| September 2025 | 42 |
Compared with England and Wales, Leiston recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (34% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (68% below) and shoplifting (50% below). On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 32 to 47 and violence and sexual offences rose from 169 to 204.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 204 | 39.1 | 34.2 | +21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 47 | 9.0 | 6.7 | +47% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 26 | 5.0 | 15.4 | +8% |
| Other theft | 23 | 4.4 | 6.4 | +10% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 4.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Public order | 17 | 3.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Drugs | 8 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 8 | 1.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 1.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 1.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Leiston; the highest is Lowestoft (90.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Kesgrave (24.2).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Leiston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halesworth | 276 | 54.1 | -26% |
| Woodbridge | 400 | 41.8 | -43% |
| Beccles | 637 | 62.0 | -15% |
| Kesgrave | 386 | 24.2 | -67% |
| Bungay | 280 | 54.0 | -26% |
| Harleston | 274 | 51.6 | -30% |
| Felixstowe | 1,394 | 55.6 | -24% |
| Lowestoft | 6,485 | 90.8 | +24% |
Aldeburgh & Leiston is the one area listed within Leiston, with 47.9 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldeburgh & Leiston | Neighbourhood | 12,016 | 575 | 47.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 51% of the crime recorded in Leiston over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (41).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 41 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 32 |
| On or near Urban Road | 24 |
| On or near Harling Way | 19 |
| On or near Heath View | 17 |
| On or near Westward Ho | 16 |
| On or near High Street | 14 |
| On or near Mandor Mews | 13 |
| On or near B1119 | 9 |
| On or near B1122 | 9 |
Of the 356 crimes in Leiston with a recorded outcome, 17% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 26 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 126 | 35.4% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 63 | 17.7% | 11.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 60 | 16.9% | 35.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 36 | 10.1% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24 | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 5.6% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
Leiston has an estimated population of 5,215 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.4%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (20%, against 34%) and an older population (24%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Leiston average decile 3.7 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Leiston | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 20.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 56.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 22.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Leiston a safe place to live?
Leiston recorded 73.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 724th 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 Leiston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 204 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (47).
Is crime in Leiston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Leiston was up 27% on the year before: 382 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 301 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Leiston?
About 5,215 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Leiston?
Leiston 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.