Cambridge Crime Rate November 2025 | Monthly Statistics

November 2025 saw Cambridge maintain a crime rate of 6.9 per 1,000 residents, 5.5% below the UK average of 7.3. The area's crime profile remained shaped by its university character, with violence and sexual offences (388 cases, 30% of total) and shoplifting (173 cases, 13.4%) as the most prevalent categories. Anti-social behaviour (134 cases, 10.4%) followed, though this figure was 34% below the UK average. Seasonal factors played a role in these trends: Bonfire Night and the start of Black Friday shopping likely influenced shoplifting rates, while shorter evenings may have reduced opportunities for anti-social behaviour. The UK average for violence and sexual offences was 2.6 per 1,000, but Cambridge recorded 2.1 per 1,000, 18% below the national figure. This discrepancy may reflect the area's strong community policing and the relatively low proportion of transient populations compared to larger cities. Drug-related crimes (114 cases, 8.8%) were 122% above the UK average, a figure that could be linked to the presence of multiple higher education institutions. These data points illustrate how local demographics and geography interact with national crime trends to produce unique patterns.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in November 2025 was a 131.6% rise in theft from the person, with incidents increasing from 19 to 44. This jump, though not directly linked to the season, may reflect heightened activity around Black Friday shopping. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour fell by 37.1% as the number of incidents dropped from 213 to 134, possibly due to shorter evenings and reduced social gatherings. Shoplifting rose by 10.2% to 173 cases, remaining 43% above the UK average for the category. Bicycle theft, however, declined by 25% to 54 incidents, a stark contrast to the 400% UK average for the same crime type. These shifts highlight the combination of local factors, from retail activity to seasonal routines, in shaping crime patterns.

Cambridge's crime rate in November 2025 fell by 6.5% compared to the previous month, dropping from 7.4 to 6.9 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with typical seasonal patterns in university towns, where post-semester activity and reduced foot traffic in certain areas may contribute to lower reported incidents. On a daily basis, 43 crimes were recorded over the month, a figure that reflects the area's density and the presence of multiple institutions. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate of 1 crime per 145 residents highlights the relative safety of Cambridge compared to larger urban centres. This statistic, while not directly comparable to national averages, underscores the local context of a built-up area with a strong community infrastructure and policing presence.