Cambridge Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Cambridge's crime profile in January 2026 reveals a marked dominance of property crimes over violent offences, a pattern that may reflect the city's unique socio-economic and geographic characteristics. With 563 property-related incidents compared to 379 violent crimes, the balance suggests that retail and residential environments are primary crime generators. This aligns with Cambridge's identity as a university city, where high foot traffic in shopping districts and student populations likely contribute to shoplifting (1.1 per 1,000) and bicycle theft (0.3 per 1,000) rates significantly above the UK average. However, violent crime rates, while comprising nearly a third of total incidents, are 18% below the national average for violence and sexual offences, potentially due to effective policing in high-risk areas. Seasonal factors also play a role: January's post-holiday period, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall may have dampened outdoor crimes typical of summer, though shoplifting's sharp increase contradicts this, indicating possible shifts in criminal activity patterns. The city's overall crime rate of 7.0 per 1,000, 6.1% above the UK average, underscores the need for targeted interventions in property crime hotspots, particularly in areas with high concentrations of retail and student populations. This data also highlights the importance of distinguishing between local and national trends, as Cambridge's specific dynamics—such as its academic community and historic town planning—can produce crime profiles that diverge from broader UK patterns.

January saw a 34.9% increase in shoplifting, with 205 incidents reported—100% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This surge may partly explain the overall crime rate's 6.1% rise above the UK average. Meanwhile, bicycle theft fell by 10.5% to 51 incidents, though Cambridge still reports 650% more such crimes than the national average. Violent crimes, though the second-largest category (29.1% of total), were 18% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences. The 75% jump in theft from the person (28 incidents) suggests targeted activity in high-traffic areas, potentially linked to post-holiday retail patterns. These shifts highlight a combination of property crime prevalence and seasonal factors, with shoplifting's sharp rise demanding closer scrutiny.

Cambridge's crime rate in January 2026 rose to 7.0 per 1,000 residents, a 9.8% increase from December's 6.3. This places the city 6.1% above the UK average of 6.6, though specific crime categories show mixed performance. Daily crime activity averaged 42 incidents per day, reflecting consistent policing and reporting practices. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 144 residents, a figure that contextualises risk in terms of population exposure. While the overall rate has risen, certain categories like drugs and vehicle crime have fallen below UK averages, suggesting targeted interventions may be influencing trends. The population-scaled perspective highlights that, despite the increase, Cambridge remains a relatively low-crime area compared to larger urban centres, with the majority of reported incidents falling into property-related offences.