Rural East Cambridgeshire Crime Rate

Rural East Cambridgeshire is a highly secure urban settlement, featuring an overall crime rate of 58.3 per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 93.1, earning the area a strong safety score of 87/100. The region has seen a positive trend over the last twelve months, with a significant 13.3% decrease in total crime year-over-year. This downward trajectory indicates that the area is becoming even safer for its 11,389 residents. Compared to national statistics, Rural East Cambridgeshire offers a peaceful environment with lower risks across most crime categories, particularly property-related offences.

Crime in Rural East Cambridgeshire

In Rural East Cambridgeshire, the most prevalent crime category is violence and sexual offences, which makes up 32.7% of all reports. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 17.5% and shoplifting at 9.0%. While violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, it is vital to consider the impact of property crime on the local community.

The overall property crime rate—comprising burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft, vehicle crime, shoplifting, and other theft—is 21.3 per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 32.9. Shoplifting and other theft are the primary drivers of this figure, suggesting that commercial and residential security remains a priority. For homeowners, the data shows that while burglary (4.5%) and vehicle crime (5.6%) are relatively low, the combined volume of property-related offences still represents a significant portion of police activity in the area.

Crime Trends in Rural East Cambridgeshire

The crime trend in Rural East Cambridgeshire is currently decreasing, with total offences falling by 13.3% over the last twelve months. This is a significant improvement in the area's safety profile. Monthly data shows that crime rates fluctuated throughout the year, reaching a peak of 6.0 per 1,000 in May 2025 and a low of 3.4 in February 2025.

The latter half of 2025 saw a sustained period of slightly higher activity, with rates remaining above 5.3 per 1,000 from July through October. However, when compared to the same periods in the previous year, the overall volume of crime has clearly diminished. For residents, this downward trend is reassuring, suggesting that Rural East Cambridgeshire is becoming increasingly secure. The consistent reduction in crime across the year highlights the effectiveness of local community and policing efforts in maintaining a safe rural environment.

How To Keep Safe in Rural East Cambridgeshire

The most frequently reported crime in Rural East Cambridgeshire is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for nearly a third of all incidents. While often occurring in private settings or specific social contexts, maintaining personal safety awareness is always beneficial.

To enhance your safety in the area, consider these practical steps:

• Stay aware of your surroundings when walking alone, especially during late evening hours, and stick to well-lit, populated routes.
• If you are a business owner, ensure your premises have robust anti-shoplifting measures, as this is the third most common crime in the area.
• Secure your vehicles overnight in a garage or behind locked gates, as vehicle crime accounts for over 40% of night-time reports.
• Participate in local community safety groups or follow local police social media updates to stay informed about any emerging crime patterns in the rural villages.
• Ensure your home is visibly protected; even in safe areas, visible security measures like professional alarm systems can deter opportunistic offenders.

Crime Timing in Rural East Cambridgeshire

Crime in Rural East Cambridgeshire follows clear temporal patterns. The afternoon (12pm - 6pm) is the peak time for theft and shoplifting, which together make up 51% of crimes during these hours. This likely reflects activity around local commercial areas and periods when residential properties are left unattended during the working day.

As night falls (12am - 6am), the focus of criminal activity shifts dramatically towards property. Vehicle crime is most prevalent during these hours, accounting for 41% of all night-time reports. Burglary also reaches its proportional peak at 20% during the night. While the overall volume of crime is lower in the early morning hours, the risk to vehicles and homes is statistically higher, highlighting the need for robust overnight security measures.

Rural East Cambridgeshire is situated within the East Cambridgeshire local authority, a region known for its relatively low crime rates. When compared to the more bustling urban centres of Ely or the nearby city of Cambridge, this rural settlement offers a significantly higher safety score and a lower density of incidents. Neighboring areas such as Soham or Littleport may experience slightly different crime profiles due to their larger commercial cores, but Rural East Cambridgeshire remains one of the more tranquil options for residents in the county. Its position provides a balance of rural security with easy access to the economic opportunities of the wider Cambridgeshire area.

Protecting Your Property in Rural East Cambridgeshire

With a property crime rate of 21.3 per 1,000, Rural East Cambridgeshire is safer than the UK average, yet property-related offences such as shoplifting, theft, and burglary still account for a substantial portion of local crime. In rural settings, properties can often be more isolated, making them attractive targets for opportunistic thieves who rely on the cover of darkness or the absence of neighbours. Traditional security systems like standard CCTV often fail because they only provide evidence after a crime has been committed.

For true security, a proactive approach is essential. scOS is an AI-powered security operating system that goes beyond simple recording. It uses multi-camera intelligence to watch your property boundaries constantly, identifying threats in real-time. If an unauthorised person enters your property, scOS can autonomously trigger deterrents like high-intensity lights and audible warnings. This destroys the element of surprise that burglars depend on. In an area where vehicle crime and burglary peak overnight, having a system that prevents the incident rather than just filming it provides the highest level of protection for your home and family.