Crime in Sudbury: statistics, rates and trends

1,845 crimes were recorded in Sudbury in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 893 reports (48% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Sudbury has the 682nd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Sudbury was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,454 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,803). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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 Sudbury 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 vehicle crime (+65%) and drugs (+48%). The largest falls were in burglary (-42%) and other theft (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Sudbury

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sudbury recorded 893 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 48.4% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Sudbury

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sudbury recorded 195 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 10.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Sudbury

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sudbury recorded 154 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Sudbury

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sudbury recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Sudbury

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sudbury recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Sudbury

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sudbury recorded 100 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Sudbury

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sudbury recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Sudbury

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sudbury recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 65% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Sudbury

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sudbury recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Sudbury

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sudbury recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Sudbury

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sudbury recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Sudbury

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sudbury recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Sudbury

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sudbury 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 up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Sudbury

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sudbury recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 75% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

5 areas within Sudbury, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Sudbury South East had the highest rate (112.8 per 1,000) and Great Cornard the lowest (44.0). 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 Sudbury over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sudbury 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.

Sudbury has an estimated population of 24,179. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sudbury sits in decile 5.2, 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 Sudbury. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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