Bacton and Cotton Crime Rate

Bacton and Cotton is a secure and peaceful settlement, currently holding a high safety score of 91/100. The overall crime rate in the area is 33.0 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the UK national average of 93.1. While the year-over-year trend shows an 11.4% increase in reported incidents, the village remains one of the safer locations in the Mid Suffolk district. Property crime is also notably low, with a rate of 8.5 per 1,000 people compared to the UK average of 32.9. This data suggests that while there has been a moderate rise in local activity, Bacton and Cotton continues to offer a very safe environment for its 1,183 residents.

In Bacton and Cotton, the most reported crimes are violence and sexual offences, which make up 48.7% of all incidents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common at 15.4%, followed by other theft at 10.3%. When looking at property crime overall—including burglary, theft, and vehicle crime—the rate is 8.5 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average, suggesting that while theft is a top-three concern, the village remains a low-risk area for property owners. Burglary is relatively rare, accounting for only 5.1% of reports, but residents should still be aware of opportunistic theft which is more prevalent during the daytime.

The crime rate in Bacton and Cotton has experienced a moderate upward trend, increasing by 11.4% year-over-year. Monthly data from late 2024 through 2025 shows several fluctuations, with the rate starting at 3.4 per 1,000 in November 2024 and reaching a peak of 5.1 per 1,000 in October 2025. There were also notable spikes of 4.2 per 1,000 in April, May, and July 2025. While these figures remain low in absolute terms, the consistent presence of these peaks throughout the year suggests a steady level of local activity. This trend highlights the importance of maintaining consistent security measures to preserve the village's high safety standards.

How To Keep Safe in Bacton and Cotton

As violence and sexual offences represent the highest proportion of local crime at 48.7%, personal safety and community awareness are key. Residents are advised to stay aware of their surroundings, particularly when walking in quieter areas after dark. Although the overall crime rate is low, other theft is the third most common crime and peaks during the afternoon, so always ensure personal belongings and garden equipment are kept out of sight and secured. For those concerned about property, installing high-quality locks on all doors and windows is a basic but effective deterrent. Additionally, since vehicle crime and burglary increase as a percentage of incidents at night, parking vehicles in well-lit areas or garages and activating home security systems before bed is highly recommended. Community vigilance, such as reporting suspicious activity to local authorities, helps maintain the village's high safety score.

Crime patterns in Bacton and Cotton show a clear distinction between daytime and nocturnal activity. During the morning and afternoon, theft-related offences are the most prevalent, accounting for 60% and 65% of incidents respectively. This suggests that opportunistic crimes often occur when residents are away from their homes. In contrast, the night-time period between midnight and 6am sees a significant spike in vehicle crime, which constitutes 28% of all reports, and burglary, which rises to 18%. These patterns highlight the need for robust daytime property security and enhanced vehicle and home protection during the overnight hours.

When compared to surrounding areas, Bacton and Cotton sits in a relatively safe pocket of Mid Suffolk. It is safer than nearby Mendlesham, which has a crime rate of 32.9 per 1,000, and is comparable to Gislingham at 23.4. While it is more active than the very quiet villages of Finningham and Wickham Skeith, which both reported 0.0 crimes, it remains a low-crime alternative for those looking for a secure residential area in the region.

In Bacton and Cotton, where theft-related offences are the most common property crimes and peak during the daytime, homeowners need a security solution that is active 24/7. Traditional CCTV systems often fail because they are reactive; they provide footage of a crime after the fact, which is of little comfort to victims. scOS offers a proactive approach by using AI to detect potential threats at the boundary of your property. By identifying suspicious behaviour and unauthorised vehicles in real-time, scOS can trigger autonomous responses such as activating lights or sound to deter intruders before they even attempt a break-in. This is especially valuable in a village where opportunistic theft is a concern during the day and vehicle crime rises at night. scOS’s multi-camera intelligence ensures that every angle of your property is monitored, providing a level of protection that simple recording devices cannot match. Moving to a proactive AI system like scOS ensures that your home remains secure, preserving the high safety standards of the Bacton and Cotton community.