Crime in Leiston
Recorded crime in Leiston is 1.1 times the East Suffolk average and 0.8 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 6%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Leiston: about 5,541 residents in 5 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 5/10Average crime
- Living
- 4.5/10Fair
- 5-year change
- −6%fewer crimes
- vs the council
- 1.1×the East Suffolk average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Leiston.
Crime over 5 years
Down 6% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Leiston, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.1× the East Suffolk average (0.8× the England and Wales average). 57 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 79% of the harm here
- Burglary: 7% of the harm here
- Other theft: 3% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 79% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 8.8 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.2 |
| Burglary | 1.7 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 31.5 |
| Drugs | 1.7 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.9 |
| Other crime | 1.2 |
| Other theft | 4.0 |
| Theft from the person | 0.2 |
| Vehicle crime | 1.4 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 7.0 |
| Public order | 4.9 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.3 |
| Shoplifting | 2.4 |
Postcode districts in Leiston
Nearby towns
Council: East Suffolk
Questions about crime in Leiston
- Is Leiston a safe place to live?
- Leiston scores 5 out of 10 for safety (average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 1.1 times the East Suffolk average.
- Is crime going up or down in Leiston?
- Down 6% over 5 years, from 381 recorded crimes a year to 359.
- What is the most common crime in Leiston?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 31 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Leiston compare with East Suffolk?
- Crime severity in Leiston is 1.1 times the East Suffolk average.