Cambridge Crime Rate April 2025 | Monthly Statistics

April 2025 saw Cambridge's crime rate remain 9.1% below the UK average at 7.0 per 1,000 residents, but notable spikes in specific categories warrant attention. Violence and sexual offences, accounting for 26.6% of all crimes, remained the most common type.9 per 1,000 was 27% below the UK average. Shoplifting, however, surged to 1.4 per 1,000 — 112% above the UK average — a stark contrast to the area's usual patterns. This anomaly may be linked to the Easter holiday period, which typically sees increased foot traffic in retail zones. Anti-social behaviour also featured prominently at 15.4% of all crimes, though its rate was 17% below the UK average. The seasonal context of spring, with longer evenings and outdoor activity, likely contributes to fluctuations in property crimes. While overall rates remained stable, the sharp rise in shoplifting and the unexpected increase in possession of weapons — a 41.7% month-on-month jump — highlight areas requiring closer monitoring. Cambridge's university-driven economy and tourist influx during Easter may explain some trends, but the data underscores the need for targeted interventions in retail hotspots and community engagement to address rising weapon-related incidents.

April 2025 revealed concerning month-on-month increases in possession of weapons (+41.7%), robbery (+38.5%), and other theft (+14.3%), suggesting emerging risks in the area. The 112% surge in shoplifting compared to the UK average — 1.4 per 1,000 in Cambridge versus 0.7 per 1,000 nationally — is particularly striking, likely driven by Easter-related retail activity. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted by 60.6% (66 to 26) and bicycle theft dropped 49.6% (115 to 58), possibly due to warmer weather reducing vehicle-related crimes and increased bike storage in university campuses. The balance between property and violent crimes also shifted: while property crimes (623) still outnumbered violent crimes (351), the latter's share of total incidents rose slightly. Residents should be especially vigilant in areas with high foot traffic, as shoplifting rates remain significantly above the UK average. The sharp increase in weapons possession, though small in absolute terms (17 incidents), may indicate rising tensions in specific neighbourhoods and warrants community awareness efforts.

Cambridge's crime rate in April 2025 (7.0 per 1,000) marked a 12.4% decrease from the previous month's 8.0 per 1,000, reflecting a broader trend of year-on-year stability. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 44 crimes per day — a figure that, while locally contextual, illustrates the persistent presence of crime in a city of 187,642 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 142 residents, a monthly exposure rate that remains lower than the UK average. This statistic, however, does not fully capture the uneven distribution of crime types: while overall rates are favourable, specific categories like shoplifting and weapons possession require targeted attention. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Cambridge's crime profile is shaped by its unique characteristics — a university city with high student turnover and seasonal tourism — which may explain the volatility in certain crime types. Residents should note that while the city is generally safer than the UK average, the sharp rise in shoplifting and weapons possession highlights the need for situational awareness in high-traffic areas.