East Suffolk Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

East Suffolk's overall crime rate in January 2026 stood at 4.6 per 1,000 residents, marking a 30.3% reduction compared to the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000. This figure places the area among the safer local authority districts in England, though the data reveals a nuanced picture of crime distribution. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 44.1% of all incidents, followed by criminal damage and arson (10.1%) and anti-social behaviour (8.0%). These top categories highlight persistent challenges in maintaining public order, particularly in areas with high community engagement or transient populations. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days—likely influenced crime patterns, as evidenced by the notable decline in vehicle crime and theft from the person. However, the area's lower-than-average rates for anti-social behaviour and shoplifting suggest that local initiatives, such as community policing or targeted retail security measures, may be contributing to this relative safety. The balance between property crimes (422 incidents) and violent crimes (510 incidents) indicates a combination of factors, including the area's mix of rural and coastal geography, which may influence both residential security and opportunities for interpersonal conflict. While the overall rate remains low, the increase in burglary and shoplifting underscores the need for continued vigilance in addressing specific vulnerabilities during colder months.

January 2026 saw significant reductions in several crime categories, with vehicle crime decreasing by 39.0% from 77 to 47 incidents. This drop aligns with the post-holiday period and shorter daylight hours, which may have reduced opportunities for vehicle-related crimes. Similarly, drug-related offences fell by 20.8%, from 24 to 19 cases, potentially reflecting seasonal lulls in activity. Theft from the person also declined by 16.7%, from six to five incidents, consistent with reduced foot traffic in retail areas during January. Conversely, shoplifting increased by 31.3%, rising from 67 to 88 cases, a trend that may be linked to post-Christmas clearance events or targeted retail theft. Burglary rose sharply by 31.8%, from 66 to 87 incidents, a figure that stands 43% above the UK average. This increase, though modest in absolute terms, highlights a potential vulnerability in residential security during colder months. Violence and sexual offences, the most prevalent category at 510 incidents, remain 18% below the UK average, suggesting broader community safety initiatives may be contributing to this trend.

East Suffolk's crime rate in January 2026 rose by 5.9% compared to the previous month's 4.4 per 1,000, reaching 4.6 per 1,000. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in crime patterns over the course of the month. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 37 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the frequency of incidents for residents. Over the 31 days of January, one crime was reported for roughly every 216 residents, illustrating the scale of exposure within the population. While this monthly aggregate does not account for daily fluctuations, it provides a broad sense of how often crime intersects with daily life in East Suffolk. The population of 249,664 means that each resident faces a calculated risk of encountering crime, though the overall rate remains significantly lower than the UK average. This comparison underscores the relative safety of the area, even as local trends show a slight upward movement.