Sudbury Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Sudbury's January 2026 crime profile reveals a striking divergence from the UK average, most in the category of violence and sexual offences. At 3.9 per 1,000, this rate is 56% higher than the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000, accounting for nearly 60% of all reported crimes in the built-up area. This outlier suggests a unique pressure point in local crime patterns, potentially influenced by seasonal factors and community dynamics. The overall crime rate for the area stood at 6.4 per 1,000, placing it 5.9% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This relative safety is driven by a mix of crime types, with property crimes (35 incidents) and violent crimes (91 incidents) dominating the breakdown. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—likely contributes to the lower-than-expected rates for shoplifting and public order offences. However, the surge in vehicle crime and burglary raises questions about the interplay between environmental factors and crime opportunities. The area's relatively low rates for anti-social behaviour (0.4 per 1,000, 57% below the UK average) and other theft (0.2 per 1,000, 57% below the UK average) suggest a community profile where informal social controls may play a role in mitigating certain types of crime. These patterns align with the characteristics of a medium-sized built-up area within a rural district, where the proximity to natural spaces and the absence of large-scale commercial hubs create a distinct crime ecology.

Vehicle crime saw a 200% increase in January 2026, rising from one to three incidents. This jump, though small in absolute terms, may partly explain the broader shift in crime mix towards property-related offences. Burglary also doubled, marking a stark contrast to the previous month's zero recorded incidents. Meanwhile, other theft decreased by 44.4%, suggesting a possible seasonal dip in opportunistic crimes. The area's violent crime rate stood at 3.9 per 1,000, 56% above the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000. This disparity highlights a unique challenge for Sudbury, where the proportion of violent offences (59.9% of total crimes) far exceeds the UK average. Conversely, shoplifting remained 30% below the UK average, a trend consistent with the post-holiday lull in retail footfall. These figures paint a nuanced picture of crime dynamics, where certain categories diverge sharply from national norms.

Sudbury's crime rate in January 2026 rose 9.4% from the previous month's 5.9 per 1,000 to 6.4 per 1,000. This increase, though modest, reflects shifts in crime patterns typical of post-holiday periods. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately five crimes per day, a figure that captures the steady rhythm of local activity. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 156 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the population of 23,637. This figure, while not alarmingly high, underscores the need for ongoing vigilance in community safety initiatives. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Sudbury's crime profile remains broadly aligned with the UK average, despite the notable spike in violent offences. Local residents may find the 1-in-156 monthly exposure rate a useful benchmark for understanding the likelihood of encountering crime in their daily lives.