It is important to recognise that there can be no perfect safety but there are common sense rules that can be applied. In the summer season the two beaches at Cromer, the West Beach and the East Beach, are in the care of RNLI lifeguards from 10am to 6pm and they will give local advice. They keep constant watch on swimming areas marked by flags on the beach.
You can find beach safety advice linked from RNLI Lifeguards.
The lifeguards put out signal flags to indicate the advisability - or otherwise - of bathing, depending on the sea state.
At Cromer you are strongly advised never to enter the sea under the pier and not to swim anywhere near the first breakwater to the east of the pier. Because of the differing beach levels either side of the breakwater, a strong rip tide runs over the top. Bathing near breakwaters is never a good idea but that one in partiuclar should be avoided.
Remember that whilst the tide goes in and out twice a day, with it is an associated current. This flows east to west for about six hours, then goes slack and reverses direction, then repeats the whole process again over the next six hours. See the lifeguards information boards for details of high and low tide and ask for information on the currents.
Having said that, Cromer has two very safe bathing beaches, providing you apply common sense and follow the simple instructions on the promenade notice boards and those provided by the lifeguards. Enjoy your time by - and in - the sea!