Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO4 · Essex
147
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
IP1 · Suffolk
373
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Colchester has less crime — 147 vs 373 incidents in February 2026.
Ipswich recorded substantially more crime than Colchester in February 2026 — 373 incidents compared to 147, a 2.5x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Public order (13), while Ipswich has more Criminal damage & arson (26). 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, Colchester recorded fewer crimes than Ipswich — 147 vs 373 incidents. That is 61% fewer crimes. Ipswich is above the national average.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Colchester saw higher rates of Public order while Ipswich had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Colchester recorded fewer total crimes (147 vs 373).