Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
IP33 · Suffolk
168
crimes in March 2026
Near national average
CO1 · Essex
521
crimes in March 2026
Above national average
Bury St Edmunds has less crime — 168 vs 521 incidents in March 2026.
Colchester recorded substantially more crime than Bury St Edmunds in March 2026 — 521 incidents compared to 168, a 3.1x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Bury St Edmunds sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (16), while Colchester has more Anti-social behaviour (46). 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, Bury St Edmunds recorded fewer crimes than Colchester — 168 vs 521 incidents. That is 68% fewer crimes. Colchester is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In March 2026, Bury St Edmunds saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Colchester had more Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Bury St Edmunds recorded fewer total crimes (168 vs 521).