Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
CO12 · Essex
77
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
IP2 · Suffolk
260
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Harwich has less crime — 77 vs 260 incidents in February 2026.
Ipswich recorded substantially more crime than Harwich in February 2026 — 260 incidents compared to 77, a 3.4x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Harwich sees higher rates of Criminal damage & arson (10), while Ipswich has more Shoplifting (24). Harwich is below the national average while Ipswich is above, making Harwich 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 February 2026 Police data, Harwich recorded fewer crimes than Ipswich — 77 vs 260 incidents. That is 70% fewer crimes. Harwich is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Harwich saw higher rates of Criminal damage & arson while Ipswich had more Shoplifting. Overall, Harwich recorded fewer total crimes (77 vs 260).