Langham (Colchester) Crime Rate

Langham (Colchester) is a safe residential settlement with an overall crime rate of 61.7 per 1,000 people. This is notably lower than the UK average of 91.6, earning the area a solid safety score of 83/100. The crime trend is currently stable, with a minor 3.4% decrease year-over-year, indicating a consistent safety environment for the local community. Located just north of Colchester near the A12, Langham offers a peaceful village setting with a strong sense of community. The following analysis provides a detailed breakdown of the specific crime types reported and the temporal patterns observed in the area between January and December 2025.

Crime Breakdown in Langham (Colchester)

Langham (Colchester) is characterized by a high proportion of violence and sexual offences, which account for 50.6% of all reported incidents. This equates to 31.2 crimes per 1,000 residents. The second most common category is public order offences at 15.3%, followed by burglary at 9.4%. These three categories represent the majority of local police activity, focusing primarily on personal safety, social conduct, and home security.

The overall property crime rate in Langham is 18.1 per 1,000 people. This includes burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and criminal damage. This rate is significantly lower than the UK average of 32.2, making it a relatively secure location for homeowners. However, burglary is a notable factor, representing nearly 10% of all crime. Other theft also contributes 8.2% to the total. For residents, these statistics suggest that while serious property crime is less frequent than the national average, the prevalence of burglary and theft means that maintaining high-quality security for homes and personal property is essential.

Crime Trends in Langham (Colchester)

Total crime in Langham is currently stable, with a minor year-over-year decrease of 3.4%. This indicates a consistent safety environment for the local community. However, the monthly trend data for 2025 shows significant variability throughout the year.

The safest months were April and July 2025, both recording a low rate of 2.2 crimes per 1,000 residents. In contrast, December 2025 saw a major spike, with the rate jumping to 9.4, more than four times the April low. Other busy months included October (8.7), March (8.0), and January (7.3). These fluctuations suggest that while the overall volume of crime is relatively low, Langham is susceptible to short-term increases in activity, particularly during the winter months. For residents, the stable annual trend is a positive indicator of long-term security in the village.

How To Keep Safe in Langham (Colchester)

The most common crime in Langham is violence and sexual offences, which in a village setting often includes personal disputes. Staying safe involves maintaining awareness and strong community ties.

1. When walking through the village, particularly in the evening, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid isolated footpaths or unlit lanes.
2. Be a proactive neighbour; staying in touch with those nearby and participating in local community groups can help identify and deter unusual activity quickly.
3. Keep personal items like mobile phones and wallets secure and out of sight when in public spaces to avoid attracting opportunistic attention.
4. Ensure your home's exterior is well-lit at night; motion-activated lighting is an effective and simple way to discourage loitering near your property.
5. If you notice any suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour, report it to the local authorities to help them monitor and address any emerging patterns in the area.

Temporal patterns in Langham show that theft is the most frequent crime during daylight hours, accounting for 55% of incidents in both the morning (6am to 12pm) and afternoon (12pm to 6pm). This suggests that opportunistic theft is most likely when the village is most active. As the day ends, the focus shifts; evening hours (6pm to 12am) see a rise in "other" crimes, including anti-social behaviour, which make up 31% of reports. During the night (12am to 6am), vehicle crime and burglary become the primary concerns, accounting for 40% and 32% of all incidents respectively. These patterns highlight the need for consistent, 24-hour home security, with a particular focus on overnight protection.

Langham is surrounded by some of the lowest-crime areas in the region. When compared to its immediate neighbours—Lamb Corner, Boxted Cross, Boxted, and Dedham—all of which reported zero crimes per 1,000 people, Langham's rate of 61.7 is notably higher. This suggests that Langham's larger population and its proximity to major transport links lead to a higher level of reported activity than the surrounding hamlets. However, it remains a very secure location when compared to the broader urban areas of Colchester. For residents, Langham offers a balance of village life with a safety profile that is still significantly better than the national average.

With a property crime rate of 18.1 per 1,000 people, Langham is a relatively safe place to live, but the fact that burglary and theft make up a significant portion of local crime means that residents should not be complacent. Traditional CCTV systems are often reactive, recording a crime as it happens but failing to stop it. For homeowners who want the highest level of protection, scOS offers a proactive, AI-powered security operating system. By monitoring property boundaries with multi-camera intelligence, scOS can identify suspicious behaviour and trigger autonomous responses, such as activating lights or speakers, to deter potential intruders in real-time. This is particularly effective in Langham, where burglary risks are spread throughout the day and night. A visible and proactive system like scOS ensures your home is a "hard target," encouraging opportunistic criminals to move on and preserving the peace of your village home.