Bury St Edmunds Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2026, Bury St Edmunds recorded a crime rate of 7.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 4.4% above the UK average of 6.8. This figure translates to one reported crime for every 141 residents over the course of the month, a metric that offers a tangible sense of the risk faced by local residents. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences, accounting for 51.9% of all reported incidents. This category alone was 48% above the UK average, a stark deviation that may reflect local factors such as the town’s proximity to larger urban centres or seasonal dynamics. Shoplifting (11.2% of total crimes) and other theft (8.8%) followed as the next most common offences, both exceeding UK averages by 40% and 30% respectively. These patterns align with Bury St Edmunds’ character as a historic market town with a mix of retail activity and tourist attractions, which could contribute to both higher rates of property-related crimes and violent incidents. January, a post-holiday month with shorter days and reduced footfall in retail areas, may have influenced these trends, though the elevated violence rate suggests other contributing factors. The town’s relatively low rates of anti-social behaviour (78% below UK average) and vehicle crime (73% below) contrast with its higher rates of theft and violence, illustrating a combination of local demographics and crime dynamics. For residents, the 7.1 rate means a daily risk of encountering crime approximately once every 10 days, a statistic that underscores the need for continued community vigilance and policing strategies tailored to the area’s specific needs.

January 2026 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories, with robbery increasing by 150% (from 2 to 5 incidents) and bicycle theft doubling (from 0 to 3). Shoplifting also rose by 32%, reaching 33 incidents, the highest recorded level for this category in the past year. These increases may be linked to seasonal factors, such as the post-holiday period and reduced retail footfall, which could create opportunities for opportunistic theft. Conversely, other crime categories experienced notable declines, including a 92.9% drop in 'other crime' (from 14 to 1) and a 50% reduction in burglary (from 4 to 2). The sharp fall in 'other crime' might reflect improved policing or changes in reporting patterns, though further data would be needed to confirm. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category, remained 48% above the UK average, a disparity that could be attributed to Bury St Edmunds’ unique social fabric or local events. For residents, the most striking figure may be the 150% rise in robbery, which suggests a need for heightened awareness in high-risk areas. Meanwhile, the continued low rate of vehicle crime (73% below UK average) highlights the effectiveness of local initiatives in protecting parked vehicles, through community patrols or CCTV coverage.

Bury St Edmunds’ crime rate in January 2026 (7.1 per 1,000) marked a 4.3% increase from the previous month’s rate of 6.8, a shift that may reflect seasonal fluctuations or localized incidents. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 10 crimes per day, a figure that, while seemingly high, is distributed across the population such that each resident faces a 1-in-141 chance of being directly affected by a reported crime over the course of the month. This monthly exposure metric provides a more relatable perspective than raw numbers, illustrating that while crime is present, it does not impact any single group within the community. The population context is crucial here: with 41,577 residents, the 295 total crimes reported in January represent a relatively small proportion of the population, but the distribution of these crimes across categories reveals uneven risks. For instance, the 48% gap between Bury St Edmunds’ violence and sexual offences rate and the UK average suggests a need for targeted interventions in this area. In contrast, the town’s significantly lower rates of anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime (78% and 73% below UK averages, respectively) indicate that certain aspects of local life—such as community cohesion or infrastructure—may be contributing to a safer environment in these specific domains. These comparisons highlight both the challenges and the strengths of the area’s crime profile, offering a nuanced view of safety that goes beyond headline figures.