Cambridge Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Cambridge’s crime rate in January 2024 stood at 7.2 per 1,000 residents, 2.7% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This slight reduction, though modest, reflects a broader trend of stability in the city’s overall crime profile. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (27.1% of total), followed by shoplifting (12.5%) and anti-social behaviour (11.6%). This distribution underscores a combination of the city’s academic environment and urban dynamics, where property crimes often dominate due to the density of retail, transport, and university spaces. The dominance of property crime over violent crime may be partly explained by the city’s post-holiday context, with shorter days and reduced retail footfall likely contributing to a lower incidence of violent incidents. However, the sharp rise in bicycle theft—now 900% above the UK average—highlights a specific vulnerability, possibly linked to the city’s extensive cycling infrastructure and the timing of winter breaks, which may have left more bikes unsecured. Meanwhile, shoplifting’s 58% above the UK average suggests that Cambridge’s high-traffic retail areas, such as the city centre and surrounding districts, remain hotspots for such offences. The seasonal context of January, with its reduced daylight and colder weather, may have also limited opportunities for outdoor crimes, though property-related offences in indoor and transport hubs continued to show resilience. These patterns are consistent with Cambridge’s role as a major academic and cultural hub, where the mix of transient populations, high-value assets, and concentrated commercial activity creates a unique crime profile distinct from other UK cities.

January 2024 saw a dramatic 107.4% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 54 to 112 incidents—a stark contrast to the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000, where Cambridge’s rate was 900% higher. This surge may be linked to the city’s cycling infrastructure and the post-holiday period, when students and commuters may have left bikes unsecured during winter breaks. Meanwhile, theft from the person fell sharply by 73.0%, from 37 to 10 incidents, reflecting reduced pedestrian activity during shorter daylight hours. The balance between property and violent crimes remained tilted toward property offences, with 668 property crimes compared to 368 violent crimes. This dominance of property crime is consistent with Cambridge’s character as a university city, where retail, academic, and transport hubs may drive shoplifting, vehicle crime, and other non-violent offences. Shoplifting, at 12.5% of total crimes, was 58% above the UK average, a figure that may be influenced by the city’s high foot traffic in commercial districts.

Cambridge's crime rate in January 2024 remained stable compared to December 2023, with a slight 0.3% decrease from 7.3 to 7.2 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no major shifts in overall criminal activity during the transition from the end-of-year period to early January. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 44 crimes per day, a figure that aligns with the city’s typical patterns of activity and population density. When considering the monthly exposure, residents faced a 1-in-138 chance of being directly affected by a reported crime over the course of January. This ratio, while relatively low, underscores the need for continued vigilance in areas with higher foot traffic or specific vulnerabilities. Cambridge’s population of 187,642 means that crime statistics are scaled to reflect both the density of the built-up area and the distribution of services, housing, and infrastructure. The city’s status as a major academic and cultural hub may also influence crime patterns, with property-related offences often linked to retail and academic spaces, while violent crimes may be more concentrated in public areas during peak hours.