Stowmarket Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences accounted for 52.6% of all reported crimes in Stowmarket during February 2026, a category that was 3% above the UK average of 2.3 per 1,000 residents. This anomaly contrasts with the area's overall crime rate of 4.5 per 1,000, which is 29.7% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. The data suggests a combination of local demographics and crime patterns, with the town's 21,290 residents experiencing a crime rate significantly lower than the national average despite elevated violent crime rates. Seasonal factors may partly explain these figures, as February typically sees reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull in criminal activity. Shoplifting (14 cases) and drug-related crimes (6 cases) also exceeded UK averages by 21% and 30% respectively, while anti-social behaviour and criminal damage were 78% and 57% below national rates. The dominance of violent crimes in the local breakdown may reflect Stowmarket's status as a commuter town with transient populations, though the exact drivers of this pattern remain unclear. The town's lower overall crime rate compared to the UK average could be attributed to its relatively rural character within the built-up area, combined with effective local policing strategies. However, the elevated violent crime rate warrants further analysis to understand whether it reflects specific local challenges or broader national trends.

February 2026 saw a 300% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 1 to 4 incidents, a sharp contrast to the 80% drop in public order offences (from 5 to 1). Anti-social behaviour also surged by 150%, with reports rising from 2 to 5 cases. These spikes in specific categories highlight shifting crime dynamics. lower than January's 4.7 per 1,000. The violent crime category, at 2.4 per 1,000, was the only major category exceeding the UK average, despite contributing 52.6% of all reported crimes. This anomaly contrasts with other categories like anti-social behaviour (0.2 vs UK 0.9 per 1,000) and burglary (0.1 vs UK 0.2 per 1,000), which were significantly below national averages. The 100% increase in robbery cases, from 0 to 1, underscores the volatility of certain crime types. Residents may find the 150% jump in bicycle theft (1 case, 0.1 per 1,000) particularly concerning. The data also shows a 33.3% decrease in other theft, from 6 to 4 cases, suggesting some categories are stabilising despite others rising sharply.

Stowmarket's crime rate in February 2026 (4.5 per 1,000) was 4.1% lower than January's rate of 4.7 per 1,000, reflecting a continued downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 3 crimes per day, a figure that may seem high to residents but is contextually lower than the UK average when scaled to population. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 224 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly below the UK average if the national figure were comparable. With a population of 21,290, the 95 total crimes reported in February equate to a relatively low frequency of incidents per capita. The area's performance is particularly notable in categories like anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, which were 78% and 57% below UK averages respectively. However, the violent crime rate's slight elevation above the national average (2.4 vs 2.3 per 1,000) indicates a nuanced picture where some crime types remain aligned with broader trends while others deviate. This contrast may be influenced by Stowmarket's unique characteristics as a commuter town within a rural district, where transient populations and local infrastructure create distinct crime dynamics compared to larger urban centres.