Ely Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In August 2025, Ely's crime profile shows a nuanced balance between property and violent crime, with violent offences slightly outnumbering property crimes for the first time this year. The overall crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents places the area 8.6% below the UK average of 8.1, a position consistent with its character as a historic market town with a relatively stable population. Violence and sexual offences account for 30% of total crimes, significantly lower than the UK average of 2.9 per 1,000 (23% below), reflecting the town's low levels of alcohol-fuelled violence typically associated with larger urban centres. Anti-social behaviour, however, emerges as a notable concern, contributing 24.7% of all crimes. This category's sharp increase relative to the UK average (23% above) may partly explain the overall crime rate's divergence from national trends, as anti-social incidents often escalate during summer months when tourism and transient populations grow. Shoplifting, at 12.1% of total crimes, is 43% above the UK average, likely linked to the town's retail presence along the High Street and increased foot traffic during the August bank holiday period. The seasonal context of August—peak holiday month, heightened tourism, and a surge in temporary residents—likely contributes to the elevated levels of shoplifting and anti-social behaviour, though the town's overall safety remains evident in its lower rates of burglary and vehicle crime compared to national averages. This interplay between local characteristics and seasonal factors illustrates a community managing crime challenges through its compact, walkable layout and strong local policing presence.

August 2025 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with anti-social behaviour surging by 213.3% compared to July, driven by a jump from 15 to 47 incidents. This increase, coupled with a 350% rise in other theft (from 4 to 18 cases), highlights emerging challenges in managing public disorder and unattended property. The town's violent crime rate, while remaining 23% below the UK average (2.2 vs 2.9 per 1,000), shows a slight shift in balance compared to previous months, with 57 violent offences accounting for 30% of all crimes. This proportion is notable as property crimes (70 incidents) now represent a smaller share than in earlier months, suggesting a possible reallocation of criminal activity towards interpersonal disputes during the summer. Conversely, categories like drugs and vehicle crime fell sharply—drugs dropped 20% (5 to 4 cases) and vehicle crime fell 49% (from 2.4 to 0.4 per 1,000), potentially reflecting seasonal patterns where outdoor vehicle crime declines during warmer months. For residents, the most immediate concern is the 23% UK average exceedance in anti-social behaviour, which translates to roughly one such incident occurring for every 550 residents over the month—a figure that may prompt local authorities to consider targeted interventions in high-traffic areas.

Ely's August 2025 crime rate of 7.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 69.6% increase from the previous month's rate of 4.4 per 1,000, a jump that underscores the impact of seasonal factors on local crime dynamics. This monthly shift equates to roughly 6 crimes reported per day in August, a figure that, while lower than the UK average daily rate (which remains unquantified for Ely), highlights the volatility of crime patterns in this historic market town. When viewed through the lens of monthly exposure, 1 in 135 residents of Ely experienced a reported crime during August—a rate that, while modest, reflects the town's unique combination of tourist activity and residential stability. The population context is critical here: with 25,642 residents, Ely's crime statistics demonstrate how a relatively small but densely populated built-up area can experience pronounced fluctuations in crime rates. This is particularly evident in the stark contrast between Ely's 0.1 per 1,000 burglary rate (63% below the UK average) and its 1.8 per 1,000 anti-social behaviour rate (23% above the UK average). These disparities illustrate how local characteristics—such as the town's compact layout, limited nightlife, and strong community policing—can temper certain crime types while amplifying others. The comparison to the previous month also reveals the influence of transient populations, with the 69.6% increase likely tied to the influx of holidaymakers and temporary workers during August, a pattern that may warrant closer monitoring as similar trends emerge in other months.