Cambridge Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Cambridge's crime profile in December 2025, accounting for 32% of all reported incidents. This category, with a rate of 2.0 per 1,000 residents, was 22% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. The city's overall crime rate of 6.3 per 1,000 residents placed it 10% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000, a consistent trend that reflects Cambridge's status as a university city with a relatively stable population and robust community resources. The seasonal context of December—marked by the Christmas shopping peak, extended dark evenings, and the presence of empty homes over the holiday period—likely contributed to the persistence of violence and sexual offences, which often involve interpersonal interactions and may be exacerbated by increased social gatherings. Anti-social behaviour, at 12.9% of all crimes, remained a significant concern.8 per 1,000 was 14% below the UK average. This may be partly due to the city's community-focused policing initiatives and the high level of public engagement in local safety campaigns. Meanwhile, shoplifting emerged as an outlier, with a rate 40% above the UK average, a figure that aligns with Cambridge's dense retail environment and the high foot traffic associated with its historic high streets and university-related commerce. The interplay between these factors—seasonal pressures, demographic characteristics, and the city's infrastructure—creates a crime profile that is both distinct and reflective of broader national trends.

December saw a 14.2% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 134 to 153 incidents, a shift that may reflect the pressures of the holiday season and the city's vibrant student population. Conversely, theft from the person dropped by 63.6%, falling from 44 to 16 incidents—a sharp decline likely tied to heightened police presence around high-traffic retail areas during the Christmas shopping period. Shoplifting, at 0.8 per 1,000 residents, was 40% above the UK average, an anomaly that may be attributed to the city's high concentration of retail outlets and the influx of shoppers during the festive season. Meanwhile, vehicle crime fell by 29.8%, a decrease that could be partially explained by reduced traffic volumes during winter holidays and the implementation of seasonal parking restrictions in key areas.

Cambridge's crime rate in December 2025 stood at 6.3 per 1,000 residents, marking an 8.3% decline from the previous month's 6.9 per 1,000. This reduction, though modest, suggests a stabilisation in local crime trends after a slight uptick in November. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 38 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the city's population density and the nature of its urban environment. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 158 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of criminal activity relative to the local population. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, which is not directly comparable due to the absence of national daily or monthly exposure figures. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while Cambridge remains a relatively safe area, the presence of 187,642 residents means that even a small crime rate translates into a measurable number of incidents across the city.