Ely's crime rate in October 2023 remained markedly lower than the UK average, with a rate of 4.5 per 1,000 residents — 43.8% below the national figure of 8.0. The town's crime profile reflects its character as a historic market town with a mix of residential and commercial areas. Violence and sexual offences (24 cases) constituted the largest share of crimes at 20.9%, followed closely by anti-social behaviour (23 cases, 20.0%). These figures are particularly noteworthy given the UK average for violence and sexual offences stands at 2.7 per 1,000 — a 67% gap. The seasonal context of October, with clocks going back and darker evenings, may contribute to increased public order incidents, though these remain relatively low at 13.9% of total crimes. The absence of significant property crime spikes, combined with consistent below-average rates for shoplifting (31% below UK) and vehicle crime (62% below UK), suggests Ely's compact layout and low traffic density likely reduce opportunities for such offences. This pattern is consistent with the town's historical role as a religious and academic hub, where community cohesion and limited commercial activity may naturally temper crime rates.