Crime in Sudbury: statistics, rates and trends
1,860 crimes were recorded in Sudbury in the 12 months to August 2026, 76.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (895), criminal damage and arson (209) and anti-social behaviour (157) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 663rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Sudbury | Babergh | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,860 | 4,466 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.9 | 46.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 24,179 | 97,033 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Sudbury peaked in the year to August 2020 (2,526 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (1,813). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 13%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,860 | 76.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,813 | 75.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,908 | 78.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,326 | 96.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,389 | 98.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,388 | 98.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,526 | 104.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,247 | 92.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,130 | 88.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 171 |
| July 2026 | 171 |
| June 2026 | 153 |
| May 2026 | 181 |
| April 2026 | 137 |
| March 2026 | 187 |
| February 2026 | 141 |
| January 2026 | 152 |
| December 2025 | 139 |
| November 2025 | 158 |
| October 2025 | 141 |
| September 2025 | 129 |
Compared with England and Wales, Sudbury recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (28% above the national rate), and notably less burglary (70% below) and anti-social behaviour (58% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 40 to 57 and drugs rose from 61 to 85, while burglary fell from 41 to 26 and public order fell from 136 to 109.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 895 | 37.0 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 209 | 8.6 | 6.7 | +25% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 157 | 6.5 | 15.4 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 129 | 5.3 | 8.5 | -2% |
| Public order | 109 | 4.5 | 6.7 | -20% |
| Other theft | 100 | 4.1 | 6.4 | -17% |
| Drugs | 85 | 3.5 | 3.3 | +39% |
| Vehicle crime | 57 | 2.4 | 5.0 | +42% |
| Other crime | 39 | 1.6 | 2.1 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 27 | 1.1 | 1.0 | -7% |
| Burglary | 26 | 1.1 | 3.6 | -37% |
| Theft from the person | 12 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 8 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Sudbury; the highest is Colchester (114.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Kelvedon and Feering (45.6).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sudbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halstead (Braintree) | 919 | 57.8 | -25% |
| Hadleigh | 460 | 49.9 | -35% |
| Colchester | 15,833 | 114.9 | +49% |
| Braintree | 3,353 | 79.7 | +4% |
| Haverhill | 1,983 | 72.0 | -6% |
| Kelvedon and Feering | 261 | 45.6 | -41% |
| Berechurch | 727 | 88.0 | +14% |
| Bury St Edmunds | 3,471 | 78.5 | +2% |
Of the 5 areas within Sudbury, Sudbury South East had the highest crime rate (111.6 per 1,000) and Great Cornard the lowest (44.1).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sudbury South East | Neighbourhood | 4,132 | 461 | 111.6 |
| Sudbury North East | Neighbourhood | 1,578 | 170 | 107.7 |
| Sudbury North West | Neighbourhood | 6,741 | 684 | 101.5 |
| Sudbury South West | Neighbourhood | 1,614 | 99 | 61.3 |
| Great Cornard | Neighbourhood | 10,114 | 446 | 44.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 27% of the crime recorded in Sudbury over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Nightclub” (90).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Nightclub | 90 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 72 |
| On or near Market Hill | 66 |
| On or near Parking Area | 56 |
| On or near Hamilton Road | 55 |
| On or near Elm Road | 33 |
| On or near Sycamore Road | 33 |
| On or near Herbert Close | 31 |
| On or near Beaconsfield Road | 29 |
| On or near Lucas Road | 28 |
Of the 1,703 crimes in Sudbury with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 157 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 674 | 39.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 419 | 24.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 238 | 14.0% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 83 | 4.9% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 80 | 4.7% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 78 | 4.6% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 65 | 3.8% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 32 | 1.9% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 14 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Sudbury has an estimated population of 24,179 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.8%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (23%, against 34%) and an older population (23%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Sudbury average decile 5.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Sudbury | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Sudbury a safe place to live?
Sudbury recorded 76.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 663rd 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 Sudbury?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 895 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (209).
Is crime in Sudbury going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sudbury was up 3% on the year before: 1,860 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,813 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Sudbury?
About 24,179 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Sudbury?
Sudbury 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.