Wivenhoe Crime Rate

Wivenhoe is a highly regarded riverside town that offers an exceptional level of safety, reflected in its high safety score of 89/100. This is significantly better than the UK average of 79. The overall crime rate stands at 45.9 per 1,000 residents, which is nearly half the national average of 91.7. While the crime trend has shown a 13.1% increase over the past year, it is important to note that this is from a very low base. Wivenhoe remains one of the most secure and peaceful settlements in the region, characterized by a strong community spirit and low levels of serious property crime, making it a premier choice for residents and families alike.

Wivenhoe maintains a very high safety score of 89/100, but its crime breakdown shows that violence and sexual offences are the most frequent incidents, accounting for 38.3% of the total. This is closely followed by shoplifting, which makes up a significant 26.4% of all crime, and criminal damage and arson at 7.9%. Property crime, which includes burglary, theft, and vehicle crime, occurs at a rate of 21.4 per 1,000 residents. This is well below the UK average of 32.3, indicating that Wivenhoe is a secure location for property owners. Specifically, burglary is very uncommon with a rate of 1.2 per 1,000, and vehicle crime is similarly low at 2.0 per 1,000. For residents, these statistics suggest that while retail-related theft is notably high for the area's size, the risk to domestic property and personal vehicles remains very low.

Wivenhoe has seen a 13.1% increase in its crime rate over the past year. Analysis of the monthly data from Dec 2024 to Nov 2025 reveals a fluctuating pattern. The year began with very low rates, dipping to 1.5 per 1,000 in February. However, a significant spike occurred in the summer, with the rate climbing to 5.8 in June and peaking at 7.1 in July. This was followed by a sharp drop to 1.8 in August, before rising again to 5.5 in October. This volatility suggests that crime in Wivenhoe can be influenced by specific seasonal events or short-term trends. Despite these fluctuations, the overall numbers remain low, and the town continues to be a very safe place to live, though the recent upward trend warrants continued community awareness.

How To Keep Safe in Wivenhoe

The most common crime type in Wivenhoe is violence and sexual offences, which often involves localized incidents rather than random street crime. To maintain personal safety, we recommend staying aware of your surroundings, particularly when walking near the waterfront or in less populated areas at night. Wivenhoe is a close-knit community, and participating in local neighbourhood watch schemes can be an effective way to stay informed. For business owners and residents, being vigilant about shoplifting—which is notably high in the area—is important; ensure that retail spaces are well-monitored and that any suspicious behaviour is reported. For homeowners, even with very low burglary rates, always ensure that windows and doors are securely locked when you are away. By looking out for one another and maintaining these simple precautions, you can help preserve Wivenhoe's excellent reputation for safety.

Crime in Wivenhoe follows a distinct daily pattern. During the morning (6am - 12pm) and afternoon (12pm - 6pm), theft is a primary concern, accounting for 33% and 37% of crimes respectively. This is largely driven by shoplifting incidents in the town's retail areas. As evening (6pm - 12am) approaches, 'other' crimes—which include anti-social behaviour and public order offences—become dominant, representing 58% of all reports. The night-time hours (12am - 6am) see a significant shift towards vehicle crime, which accounts for 41% of incidents in this period. These patterns suggest that while retail-related issues are most common during business hours, vehicles are most vulnerable during the quietest hours of the night, whereas social-related incidents are most frequent in the evening.

When compared to its neighbours, Wivenhoe's crime rate of 45.9 per 1,000 is almost identical to Alresford (45.4) and slightly lower than Elmstead Market (50.3). It is notably higher than Rowhedge (32.8) but remains vastly safer than the main Colchester urban area (103.2). High Park Corner, a smaller nearby hamlet, recorded a crime rate of 0.0. These comparisons show that Wivenhoe sits comfortably within a cluster of safe, residential communities. While it has more retail activity—reflected in its shoplifting rates—than its smaller neighbours, it successfully maintains a peaceful, low-crime character that is highly valued by its residents.

In a safe town like Wivenhoe, homeowners often look for security that matches the high quality of life in the area. While the property crime rate is low at 21.4 per 1,000, the recent 13.1% increase in overall crime suggests that maintaining a secure home is increasingly important. Traditional security measures, such as standard CCTV, are reactive—they record a crime after it has occurred. For Wivenhoe residents who want to be more proactive, scOS offers an AI-powered solution that prevents crime before it happens. By monitoring all your cameras simultaneously, scOS identifies potential threats at the property boundary. Instead of just giving you footage of a theft, scOS can autonomously trigger lights and speakers to deter intruders in real-time. This proactive approach is designed to make your home a difficult target, ensuring that Wivenhoe's burglary and vehicle crime rates remain among the lowest in the county.