Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO3 · Essex
96
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
IP1 · Suffolk
407
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Colchester has less crime — 96 vs 407 incidents in April 2026.
Ipswich recorded substantially more crime than Colchester in April 2026 — 407 incidents compared to 96, a 4.2x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Anti-social behaviour (26), while Ipswich has more Shoplifting (102). Colchester is below the national average while Ipswich is above, making Colchester the safer choice on this measure.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Colchester recorded fewer crimes than Ipswich — 96 vs 407 incidents. That is 76% fewer crimes. Colchester is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Colchester saw higher rates of Anti-social behaviour while Ipswich had more Shoplifting. Overall, Colchester recorded fewer total crimes (96 vs 407).