Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO2 · Essex
207
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
IP16 · Suffolk
28
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Leiston has less crime — 28 vs 207 incidents in February 2026.
Colchester recorded substantially more crime than Leiston in February 2026 — 207 incidents compared to 28, a 7.4x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Vehicle crime (24) and Public order (15), while Leiston has more Criminal damage & arson (9) and Anti-social behaviour (5). Colchester sits above the national average for recorded crime while Leiston 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, Leiston recorded fewer crimes than Colchester — 28 vs 207 incidents. That is 86% fewer crimes. Leiston is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Colchester saw higher rates of Vehicle crime and Public order while Leiston had more Criminal damage & arson and Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Leiston recorded fewer total crimes (28 vs 207).