Ely Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile in Ely during February 2026 was marked by an overall rate of 3.5 per 1,000, a figure that placed the area 45.3% below the UK average. This stark contrast with national figures highlights the town’s relative safety, though the data also reveals some unexpected patterns. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 30.3% of all reported crimes, a category that saw a rate of 1.1 per 1,000—53% below the UK average. This suggests that Ely’s built-up area, while not immune to violent crime, may benefit from factors such as its proximity to rural spaces, which could contribute to a lower incidence of such offences. However, the most surprising finding was the 38% increase in shoplifting compared to the UK average. With 20 incidents reported, this category represented 22.5% of all crimes, a rate of 0.8 per 1,000 that defied the expected seasonal lull. This anomaly may be attributed to Ely’s position as a commuter hub and its connection to Cambridge’s university sector, where retail spaces could attract transient populations. The seasonal context of February—a month typically associated with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—also influenced other trends. For instance, anti-social behaviour, which had been high in the previous month, dropped sharply by 62.5%, reflecting the reduced social interactions typical of colder weather. Meanwhile, property crimes as a whole remained relatively low, with shoplifting and other thefts accounting for 42% of the total, but these rates were still below the UK average for most categories. The data thus illustrates a town where crime is generally subdued but where certain localised factors, such as retail dynamics, can drive unexpected trends.

February 2026 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime types, with criminal damage and arson rising by 33.3% compared to the previous month. This increase, from three to four incidents, contrasts with the overall downward trend in crime and may reflect seasonal or localized factors. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell sharply by 62.5%, dropping from 24 to 9 incidents—a reduction that could indicate the effectiveness of local interventions or a natural seasonal decline in such behaviour. Another notable shift was the 66.7% decrease in drug-related crimes, which dropped from three to one incident. This decline, while modest in absolute terms, highlights the potential impact of targeted policing or community initiatives. The breakdown also reveals that shoplifting remains a persistent concern in Ely, with a rate of 0.8 per 1,000—38% above the UK average. This discrepancy suggests that Ely’s retail environment, influenced by its proximity to Cambridge and the university sector, may present unique vulnerabilities that require further attention. These variations in crime trends underscore the combination of local conditions and broader national patterns.

Ely's crime rate in February 2026 dropped to 3.5 per 1,000, a 33.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.2 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the seasonal lull typical of winter months, when outdoor activity and foot traffic in public spaces are generally lower. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 3 crimes per day over the 28-day period, a figure that, while low, underscores the persistent presence of criminal activity in the built-up area. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime for every 288 residents over the course of the month—a ratio significantly lower than the UK average. The population context further highlights Ely’s relative safety: with 25,642 residents, the number of crimes reported remains well below what would be expected in a larger urban area. This suggests that the town’s smaller size and possibly its rural-adjacent character contribute to a crime profile that diverges from more densely populated regions. The comparison with the previous month also reveals a shift in crime patterns, with certain categories seeing notable decreases that may reflect broader community or environmental factors.