Crime in Wivenhoe: statistics, rates and trends
353 crimes were recorded in Wivenhoe in the 12 months to August 2026, 52.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 18% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Wivenhoe at a glance
- Crime trends in Wivenhoe
- Types of crime in Wivenhoe
- Wivenhoe compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Wivenhoe
- Streets with the most crime in Wivenhoe
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wivenhoe
- Demographics of Wivenhoe
- Questions about crime in Wivenhoe
- About this data
Crime map
Shoplifting (115), violence and sexual offences (111) and public order (24) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,100th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Wivenhoe | Colchester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 353 | 18,986 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 52.9 | 94.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +18% | +8% | -1% |
| Population | 6,672 | 200,222 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Wivenhoe peaked in the year to August 2019 (390 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (225). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 38%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 353 | 52.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 298 | 44.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 225 | 33.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 326 | 48.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 280 | 42.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 314 | 47.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 323 | 48.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 390 | 58.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 255 | 38.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 37 |
| July 2026 | 31 |
| June 2026 | 26 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| April 2026 | 21 |
| March 2026 | 27 |
| February 2026 | 26 |
| January 2026 | 39 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 35 |
| October 2025 | 36 |
| September 2025 | 23 |
Compared with England and Wales, Wivenhoe recorded notably more shoplifting (2.0 times the national rate), and notably less criminal damage and arson (56% below) and violence and sexual offences (51% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 62 to 115, while criminal damage and arson fell from 26 to 20.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 115 | 17.2 | 8.5 | +85% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 111 | 16.6 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Public order | 24 | 3.6 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 23 | 3.4 | 5.0 | -12% |
| Other theft | 21 | 3.1 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 20 | 3.0 | 6.7 | -23% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 18 | 2.7 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 7 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Wivenhoe; the highest is Jaywick (156.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Lawford (39.4).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wivenhoe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berechurch | 727 | 88.0 | +66% |
| Colchester | 15,833 | 114.9 | +117% |
| Brightlingsea | 418 | 46.8 | -12% |
| West Mersea | 322 | 45.0 | -15% |
| Lawford | 202 | 39.4 | -25% |
| Jaywick | 834 | 156.8 | +196% |
| Clacton-on-Sea | 7,123 | 128.2 | +142% |
| Tiptree | 386 | 46.3 | -13% |
Wivenhoe is the one area listed within Wivenhoe, with 57.6 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wivenhoe | Neighbourhood | 8,731 | 503 | 57.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 62% of the crime recorded in Wivenhoe over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (122).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 122 |
| On or near Nelson Close | 19 |
| On or near Colchester Road | 18 |
| On or near Ernest Road | 14 |
| On or near Wivenhoe Cross | 11 |
| On or near Parking Area | 9 |
| On or near Charles Court | 7 |
| On or near Grasby Close | 6 |
| On or near Leys Road | 6 |
| On or near St John'S Road | 6 |
Of the 335 crimes in Wivenhoe with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 8.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 18 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 138 | 41.2% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 96 | 28.7% | 34.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 8.7% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 27 | 8.1% | 11.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 4.2% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 3.9% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 3.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 0.9% | 3.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
Wivenhoe has an estimated population of 6,672 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (4.1%, against 17.1%), an older population (27%, against 19%) and more retired residents (30%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wivenhoe average decile 8.3 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Wivenhoe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 30.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 7.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 43.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 4.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Wivenhoe a safe place to live?
Wivenhoe recorded 52.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,100th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Wivenhoe?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 115 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (111).
Is crime in Wivenhoe going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wivenhoe was up 18% on the year before: 353 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 298 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wivenhoe?
About 6,672 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wivenhoe?
Wivenhoe is policed by Essex.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.