Cambridge Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Cambridge, 9.9 crimes were reported in April 2024—a rate 28.6% higher than the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This translates to a 1-in-101 chance of encountering a reported crime over the course of the month. The city’s crime profile reflects its character as a university hub and tourist destination, with violence and sexual offences (23.5% of total crimes) and shoplifting (20.3%) dominating the landscape. Violence and sexual offences, at 2.3 per 1,000, were 10% below the UK average, suggesting local efforts may be mitigating some violent crime risks. However, shoplifting stood out as a stark contrast, with 2.0 per 1,000 incidents—199% above the UK average of 0.7 per 1,000. This aligns with Cambridge’s high foot traffic in retail areas and its status as a major academic and tourist destination. Anti-social behaviour (1.4 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.8 per 1,000) also exceeded national averages, likely tied to the city’s vibrant student population and bustling public spaces. Seasonal factors in April—Easter celebrations, spring weather, and increased outdoor activity—may have influenced patterns. The relatively low rate of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.5 per 1,000) suggests that Cambridge’s infrastructure and policing may be effective in this area. However, the sharp divergence in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour rates highlights the need for targeted strategies in high-traffic zones.

April 2024 saw a 42.2% increase in shoplifting, rising from 211 to 300 incidents—a rate 199% above the UK average. This surge may reflect Easter-related retail activity and the city’s role as a tourist magnet. Theft from the person also rose sharply by 71.4%, with 36 reported cases (0.2 per 1,000), though this remained just 5% above the UK average. Conversely, bicycle theft fell by 26% to 71 incidents, possibly due to increased awareness campaigns or seasonal shifts in cycling patterns. Other crime increased by 52.6%, with 29 cases reported, indicating a broader uptick in non-specific offences. The city’s violent crime rate (2.3 per 1,000) was 10% below the UK average, a contrast to the sharp spikes in property-related crimes. This divergence suggests that while violent crime may be managed through targeted interventions, property crime—particularly shoplifting—requires a different approach. The 1.9% increase in the overall crime rate compared to March (9.7 per 1,000) indicates a slight but stable trend, with no dramatic shifts in the crime mix. For residents, the 199% disparity in shoplifting rates compared to the UK average offers a concrete insight: local retail environments may face unique challenges that warrant closer examination.

Cambridge’s crime rate in April 2024 (9.9 per 1,000) was 1.9% higher than March’s rate (9.7 per 1,000), indicating a stable but slightly elevated trend. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 49 crimes per day, a figure that, while locally relevant, cannot be directly compared to UK-wide data. Over the course of April, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 101 residents—a monthly exposure rate that, while higher than the UK average, provides context for residents: the likelihood of encountering crime is moderate but not extreme. Cambridge’s population of 149,352 means that the absolute number of crimes (1,476) translates to a per-capita risk that is 28.6% above the UK average. This disparity is most pronounced in shoplifting (199% above UK rates) and anti-social behaviour (15% above), which may reflect the city’s unique demographic mix of students, tourists, and residents. In contrast, vehicle crime (36% below UK rates) and robbery (no difference from UK rates) suggest that certain areas of Cambridge’s crime profile align with national trends. The 1-in-101 monthly exposure rate, while higher than the UK average, does not equate to a daily risk that would alarm most residents. However, the sharp divergence in shoplifting and anti-social behaviour rates underscores the need for tailored local strategies that address Cambridge’s specific challenges without overgeneralizing from national data.