Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO3 · Essex
96
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
CB5 · Cambridgeshire
283
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Colchester has less crime — 96 vs 283 incidents in April 2026.
Stow cum Quy recorded substantially more crime than Colchester in April 2026 — 283 incidents compared to 96, a 2.9x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Public order (7), while Stow cum Quy has more Shoplifting (47). Colchester is below the national average while Stow cum Quy 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 Stow cum Quy — 96 vs 283 incidents. That is 66% 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 Public order while Stow cum Quy had more Shoplifting. Overall, Colchester recorded fewer total crimes (96 vs 283).