Cambridge Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Cambridge's crime profile in September 2025 reveals a distinct mix of offences shaped by its character as a university city and major research hub. The overall crime rate of 8.6 per 1,000 residents places the area 16.2% above the UK average, reflecting a combination of factors tied to its demographic and geographic profile. Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime mix, accounting for 27.6% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 2.4 per 1,000. This is 7% below the UK average for this category, likely influenced by targeted policing in university-associated areas and robust community engagement initiatives. Shoplifting follows closely at 14.7% of total crimes, with a staggering 113% increase compared to the UK average. This aligns with Cambridge's high-density retail corridors, particularly in the central district, where foot traffic and the presence of student populations create conditions conducive to such offences. Anti-social behaviour rounds out the top three categories at 14.5%, 11% above the UK average, a pattern consistent with the social dynamics of a student-dominated urban environment. Seasonal context in September—marked by the return of university students and the start of the academic year—may contribute to this trend. The relatively low rates of vehicle crime (25% below UK average) and theft from the person (23% below) suggest that Cambridge's compact urban layout and strong community policing efforts may reduce opportunities for such crimes. This crime mix illustrates a city where the interplay of academic institutions, commercial hubs, and residential areas creates a unique set of challenges and priorities for law enforcement.

September 2025 saw notable shifts in Cambridge's crime patterns, with burglary increasing by 17.0% compared to August, rising from 47 to 55 incidents. This uptick may be linked to the seasonal transition, as students return to campus and housing demand rises, potentially increasing opportunities for property crime. Conversely, shoplifting decreased by 31.8%, from 277 to 189 incidents, a change that could reflect the impact of targeted retail security measures or the waning of summer tourist activity. Theft from the person also fell sharply by 71.8%, from 39 to 11 cases, a drop that may be attributed to the end of the peak summer travel season and reduced foot traffic in tourist areas. The crime mix reveals a marked divergence from UK averages, with shoplifting and bicycle theft—both 471% and 113% above UK rates respectively—highlighting the unique challenges of a city with a high concentration of students and cyclists. Bicycle theft, in particular, remains an acute issue, with a rate of 0.4 per 1,000, far exceeding the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This discrepancy underscores the need for expanded bike storage infrastructure in the city centre, where thefts are most frequently reported. Meanwhile, violent crime remains 7% below the UK average, a figure that may be partially explained by the city's emphasis on campus safety programmes and the presence of a well-resourced local police force.

Cambridge's crime rate in September 2025 dropped by 14.4% compared to August, falling from 10.0 to 8.6 per 1,000 residents. This decline, while significant, still leaves the area 16.2% above the UK average, indicating that while local efforts may be yielding results, challenges persist relative to national benchmarks. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 43 crimes per day in September, a figure that provides residents with a tangible sense of the pace of criminal activity in their communities. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 116 residents, a monthly exposure rate that, while higher than the UK average in several categories, is tempered by the city's relatively low rates of vehicle crime and theft from the person. When viewed through the lens of Cambridge's population of 149,352, the 1283 total crimes reported in September translate to a rate that reflects the complexities of managing a densely populated urban area with a large student population. The interplay between local demographics and crime trends suggests that while the city's overall rate has decreased, specific categories such as shoplifting and bicycle theft continue to demand focused intervention. This comparative perspective highlights the need for targeted strategies that address the unique drivers of crime in Cambridge, from the high foot traffic of retail districts to the cycling culture that defines much of the city's daily life.