Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
IP32 · Suffolk
149
crimes in March 2026
Near national average
CO3 · Essex
125
crimes in March 2026
Near national average
Colchester has less crime — 125 vs 149 incidents in March 2026.
Bury St Edmunds saw somewhat more crime than Colchester in March 2026 (149 vs 125 incidents). The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bury St Edmunds sees higher rates of Shoplifting (23) and Criminal damage & arson (18), while Colchester has more Anti-social behaviour (24) and Public order (15). Both areas sit near the national average, with modest differences in their overall safety profile.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on March 2026 Police data, Colchester recorded fewer crimes than Bury St Edmunds — 125 vs 149 incidents. That is 16% fewer crimes.
The main difference lies in crime type. In March 2026, Bury St Edmunds saw higher rates of Shoplifting and Criminal damage & arson while Colchester had more Anti-social behaviour and Public order. Overall, Colchester recorded fewer total crimes (125 vs 149).