Crime in Southwold
Recorded crime in Southwold is 0.9 times the East Suffolk average and 0.6 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has risen 2%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Southwold: about 1,955 residents in 3 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 6/10Average crime
- Living
- 4.4/10Weak
- 5-year change
- +2%more crimes
- vs the council
- 0.9×the East Suffolk average
Neighbourhoods by Safety
Within 1.5 km of the centre of Southwold.
Crime over 5 years
Up 2% in 5 years Recorded crimes within 1.5 km of Southwold, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.9× the East Suffolk average (0.6× the England and Wales average). 50 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 51% of the harm here
- Burglary: 29% of the harm here
- Other theft: 8% of the harm here
Anti-social behaviour: 6.3 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 | 5.9 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 16.4 |
| Drugs | 1.2 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.1 |
| Other crime | 1.3 |
| Other theft | 7.1 |
| Theft from the person | 0.4 |
| Vehicle crime | 1.9 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 8.2 |
| Public order | 4.2 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.8 |
| Shoplifting | 2.3 |
Postcode districts in Southwold
Nearby towns
Council: East Suffolk
Questions about crime in Southwold
- Is Southwold a safe place to live?
- Southwold scores 6 out of 10 for safety (average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Crime severity is 0.9 times the East Suffolk average.
- Is crime going up or down in Southwold?
- Up 2% over 5 years, from 88 recorded crimes a year to 90.
- What is the most common crime in Southwold?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 16 per 1,000 residents a year.
- How does crime in Southwold compare with East Suffolk?
- Crime severity in Southwold is 0.9 times the East Suffolk average.