Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO4 · Essex
147
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
IP20 · Norfolk
27
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Harleston has less crime — 27 vs 147 incidents in February 2026.
Colchester recorded substantially more crime than Harleston in February 2026 — 147 incidents compared to 27, a 5.4x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Public order (13) and Shoplifting (13), while Harleston has more Anti-social behaviour (2) and Criminal damage & arson (2). 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 February 2026 Police data, Harleston recorded fewer crimes than Colchester — 27 vs 147 incidents. That is 82% fewer crimes. Harleston is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Colchester saw higher rates of Public order and Shoplifting while Harleston had more Anti-social behaviour and Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Harleston recorded fewer total crimes (27 vs 147).