Cambridge Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Cambridge's crime profile in January 2024 revealed a persistent dominance of property crimes over violent offences, a pattern that reflects the city's unique demographic and geographic characteristics. With a total crime rate of 7.2 per 1,000 residents—2.7% below the UK average—the area's overall safety position appears relatively strong. However, the breakdown of crime types highlights a stark contrast between categories: violence and sexual offences accounted for 27.1% of all reported incidents, while property crimes collectively made up 66.8% of the total. This imbalance is consistent with the city's role as a major academic and research hub, where high foot traffic in retail and university zones likely drives shoplifting and other property-related offences. Seasonal factors also played a role, with post-holiday periods typically associated with reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours potentially contributing to lower outdoor crime rates. The most prevalent crime type, violence and sexual offences, was 23% below the UK average, a figure that may be influenced by the city's relatively tight-knit community structures and strong policing presence. Conversely, shoplifting incidents were 58% above the national average, a discrepancy that could be attributed to the density of retail outlets and the transient nature of student populations. Anti-social behaviour, another significant category, accounted for 11.6% of all crimes but remained 19% below the UK average, suggesting localised efforts in community engagement may be effective in mitigating such incidents. These patterns underscore the combination of urban infrastructure, demographic composition, and seasonal rhythms in shaping Cambridge's crime profile.

January 2024 saw a dramatic 107.4% increase in bicycle theft, with incidents rising from 54 to 112. This surge aligns with the city's student population and the seasonal timing of post-holiday periods, which may see increased cycling activity as students return to campus. Conversely, theft from the person dropped by 73.0%, falling from 37 to 10 incidents, a shift that may reflect reduced foot traffic in retail areas during colder months. The balance between property and violent crime remained skewed, with property crimes (668) outnumbering violent crimes (368) by a margin of 80 incidents. This pattern is consistent with Cambridge's character as a university city, where retail and academic hubs drive property-related offences. Violent crime rates in Cambridge were 23% below the UK average, while shoplifting incidents were 58% above the national benchmark, illustrating divergent local trends in specific crime categories.

Cambridge's crime rate in January 2024 remained stable at 7.2 per 1,000 residents, a 0.3% decrease from December's 7.3 per 1,000. This minor shift suggests no significant monthly fluctuations in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 44 crimes per day, a figure that contextualises the volume of incidents within the built-up area's population of 187,642. Over the course of January, one reported crime occurred for every 138 residents, a monthly exposure rate that highlights the frequency of incidents relative to the population size. This statistic, while not directly comparable to UK-wide figures, provides a local benchmark for understanding community safety. The stability in crime rates contrasts with the seasonal context of post-holiday periods, which typically see reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours. These factors may contribute to lower outdoor crime rates between seasonality and the specific trends observed.