Crime in Stowmarket: statistics, rates and trends

1,390 crimes were recorded in Stowmarket in the 12 months to July 2026, 63.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 694 reports (50% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Stowmarket has the 903rd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Stowmarket was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,990 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,325). Over the whole period it fell 30%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Stowmarket 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. The largest increases were in drugs (+25%) and violence and sexual offences (+17%).

The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-52%) and burglary (-45%).

Violence and sexual offences in Stowmarket

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Stowmarket recorded 694 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 49.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Stowmarket

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Stowmarket recorded 132 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 9.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Stowmarket

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Stowmarket recorded 111 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Stowmarket

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Stowmarket recorded 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Stowmarket

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Stowmarket recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Stowmarket

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Stowmarket recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Stowmarket

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Stowmarket recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Stowmarket

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Stowmarket recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Stowmarket

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Stowmarket recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Stowmarket

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Stowmarket recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Stowmarket

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Stowmarket recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Stowmarket

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Stowmarket recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 52% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Stowmarket

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Stowmarket recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Stowmarket

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Stowmarket recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Stowmarket, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Stowmarket.

4 areas within Stowmarket, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Combs Ford had the highest rate (104.8 per 1,000) and Stow Thorney the lowest (37.3). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Stowmarket over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Stowmarket 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.

Stowmarket has an estimated population of 21,949. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Stowmarket sits in decile 6.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Stowmarket. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.