Cambridge Crime Rate

Cambridge is a dynamic city with a complex safety profile, currently reporting an overall crime rate of 110.2 per 1,000 residents. This figure is higher than the UK average of 91.7, contributing to a safety score of 77/100. Despite being above the national average, the city is seeing a positive trend, with a 5.5% decrease in reported crime over the past year. As a major academic and commercial hub, the city's crime statistics are influenced by its high footfall and transient population. This report provides a detailed analysis of the local crime data, helping residents and visitors understand the trends and types of offences most common across the Cambridge local authority.

About Cambridge

Cambridge is a world-renowned city defined by its historic university, thriving technology sector, and significant tourism. These factors create a unique demographic profile that influences local crime statistics. The city's population is a mix of permanent residents, a large and transient student body, and millions of annual visitors. This high density of people in the city centre, combined with a large number of commuters using the central transport hubs, creates an environment where opportunistic crimes like shoplifting and bicycle theft are more prevalent.

The city's economic strength, driven by the 'Silicon Fen' tech cluster, results in high property values, which can attract property-related offences. Additionally, the vibrant nightlife associated with a major university city contributes to the rates of anti-social behaviour and public order incidents. The widespread use of bicycles as a primary mode of transport also makes Cambridge a unique hotspot for cycle-related theft. Understanding these urban dynamics—high footfall, a transient population, and valuable assets—is key to interpreting the crime rate and safety score for the Cambridge local authority area.

Crime Breakdown for Cambridge

In the Cambridge local authority area, violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes, accounting for 27.3% of the total, with a rate of 30.0 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by shoplifting at 16.2% and anti-social behaviour at 14.9%. The high rate of shoplifting is a notable feature of the city's commercial activity, reflecting the busy retail environment in the city centre.

Property crime in Cambridge is a significant concern, with a rate of 49.8 per 1,000 residents, which is well above the UK average of 32.3. This category includes shoplifting, burglary, vehicle crime, and the city's particularly high rate of bicycle theft, which accounts for 5.5% of all reported incidents. Other theft (6.6%) and criminal damage (6.7%) also contribute to this figure. For residents and business owners, these statistics highlight a clear need for robust security. The prevalence of bicycle theft and shoplifting suggests that opportunistic criminals frequently target the city's high-traffic areas, while the burglary rate (3.7 per 1,000) indicates a consistent risk to residential properties.

The crime trend in Cambridge is currently moving in a positive direction, with a 5.5% decrease in total reported incidents over the last 12 months. Monthly trendData shows that the crime rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated throughout the year, starting at 8.6 in December 2024 and reaching a peak of 10.9 in July 2025. Other active months included March (9.9) and August (10.0), while February saw the lowest rate at 8.0. The year concluded with a rate of 8.5 in November 2025, slightly lower than the start of the period. This overall downward trend, despite the mid-year peaks, suggests that the city is becoming safer. For residents, this indicates that while crime remains a factor of urban life, the combined efforts of the community and local authorities are successfully reducing the frequency of offences.

When compared to the wider region, the Cambridge local authority stands as the most active area for crime. Surrounding districts such as South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire, and Huntingdonshire all report significantly lower crime rates, often near zero in comparison to the city's urban core. Similarly, neighbouring Uttlesford, North Hertfordshire, and West Suffolk also show much lower levels of reported activity. This contrast highlights Cambridge's role as the primary urban and economic centre for the area, where the concentration of people and businesses naturally leads to higher crime figures than the more rural surrounding local authorities.

In a city like Cambridge, where the property crime rate of 49.8 per 1,000 is significantly above the national average, traditional security measures are often insufficient. Standard CCTV and basic alarms are reactive—they record an event or sound an alert only after a breach has occurred. For Cambridge residents and business owners, a proactive approach like scOS offers a superior level of protection. By utilising AI-powered intelligence, scOS monitors property boundaries in real-time, detecting potential threats before they escalate. Whether it's identifying a suspicious loiterer or verifying a vehicle's plate, scOS can trigger autonomous responses like light activation or audible warnings to deter criminals. This is particularly effective in a city with high rates of shoplifting and bicycle theft, where opportunistic crime is common. scOS provides professional-grade, preventative security that focuses on stopping crime before it happens, offering peace of mind that reactive systems cannot match.

How To Keep Safe in Cambridge

Violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime type across the Cambridge local authority. Given the city's busy nightlife and high footfall, maintaining personal awareness is essential for safety.

To stay safe in Cambridge:

• Be mindful of your surroundings in the city centre, especially during late-night hours or in crowded areas where anti-social behaviour is more likely.
• Use well-lit, busy routes when walking at night and consider using personal safety apps to stay connected with friends or family.
• If you are a cyclist, invest in high-quality D-locks and use designated, well-monitored cycle parking to mitigate the city's high rate of bicycle theft.
• For business owners, ensure that your premises have clear sightlines and modern security to deter shoplifting, which is a significant local issue.
• Report any suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour to the police to help them target their resources effectively across the city's different wards.