Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO1 · Essex
430
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
CB3 · Cambridgeshire
100
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Hardwick has less crime — 100 vs 430 incidents in February 2026.
Colchester recorded substantially more crime than Hardwick in February 2026 — 430 incidents compared to 100, a 4.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Shoplifting (47), while Hardwick has more Other theft (12). Colchester sits above the national average for recorded crime while Hardwick is below — a significant gap for anyone weighing up the two.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on February 2026 Police data, Hardwick recorded fewer crimes than Colchester — 100 vs 430 incidents. That is 77% fewer crimes. Hardwick is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Colchester saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Hardwick had more Other theft. Overall, Hardwick recorded fewer total crimes (100 vs 430).