CRIME stats are almost always a key metric which people study when they consider moving to a new area, but that same data is just as important to those who have no intention of upping sticks.

When it comes to crime, the key question is: what is the crime rate in my area?

New information from crimerate.co.uk shows not only what the crime rate is in Colchester as a whole, but individual areas and neighbourhoods too.

The crime rates are calculated by the number of crimes reported per thousand people in 2022.

For example, with 340 crimes reported per thousand people in Colchester city centre last year, the crime rate sits at 34 per cent.

Here is a breakdown of all the data.

Crime Rates in Colchester’s Neighbourhoods

Here are the crime rates for Colchester, neighbourhood by neighbourhood.

Central Colchester: 34 per cent

New Town and the Hythe: 13.7 per cent

Greenstead: 13.6 per cent

Mile End and Braiswick: 11.7 per cent

Gazette: High – the crime rate in central Colchester was higher than any other part of the city High – the crime rate in central Colchester was higher than any other part of the city (Image: Daniel Rees, Newsquest)

Abbey Field: 8.2 per cent

Highwoods: 8.2 per cent

Parson’s Heath: 7.4 per cent

Lexden: 6 per cent

Prettygate and Westlands: 5.2 per cent

Crime Rates in North Essex’s Small Towns

But the statistics for larger areas in Colchester – and Essex more widely – paint a different picture.

The data classifies small towns as settlements with a population between 7,500 and 24,999.

Here are the crime rates for some of north Essex’s small towns.

Myland: 11.6 per cent

Harwich 10.6 per cent

Halstead: 9.4 per cent

Maldon 9.1 per cent

Gazette: Middling – Maldon's crime rate sat at 9.1 per cent, but Myland in Colchester had a crime rate of 11.6 per centMiddling – Maldon's crime rate sat at 9.1 per cent, but Myland in Colchester had a crime rate of 11.6 per cent (Image: Newsquest)

Stanway: 8.1 per cent

Burnham: 7.8 per cent

Frinton: 6.4 per cent

Tiptree: 6.1 per cent

Brightlingsea: 5.3 per cent

Crime Rates in North Essex’s Medium Sized Towns

Clacton: 12.2 per cent

Braintree: 9.7 per cent

Gazette: Clacton is statistically north Essex's most dangerous medium-sized town, with a crime rate of 12.2 per centClacton is statistically north Essex's most dangerous medium-sized town, with a crime rate of 12.2 per cent (Image: Newsquest)

Elliot 8.5 per cent

Essex’s Most Dangerous Major Towns

Crime Rates in Essex’s Major Towns

Basildon: 13.1 per cent (Essex’s most dangerous major town)

Harlow: 12.4 per cent

Gazette: Reputation – Basildon has the highest crime rate out of Essex's major towns at 13.1 per centReputation – Basildon has the highest crime rate out of Essex's major towns at 13.1 per cent (Image: Newsquest)

Colchester: 11.2 per cent

Grays: 10.5 per cent

Chelmsford: 10.1 per cent