Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO4 · Essex
147
crimes in February 2026
Near national average
IP18 · Suffolk
20
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
Southwold has less crime — 20 vs 147 incidents in February 2026.
Colchester recorded substantially more crime than Southwold in February 2026 — 147 incidents compared to 20, a 7.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Colchester sees higher rates of Shoplifting (13), while Southwold has more Anti-social behaviour (7). 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, Southwold recorded fewer crimes than Colchester — 20 vs 147 incidents. That is 86% fewer crimes. Southwold is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Colchester saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Southwold had more Anti-social behaviour. Overall, Southwold recorded fewer total crimes (20 vs 147).