Soham Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Soham’s July 2023 crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents was 48.2% below the UK average, a striking anomaly that highlights the area’s generally low crime profile. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category at 18 incidents (37.5% of total crimes), were 42% below the UK average, a significant deviation from national trends. This contrast with the UK’s higher rates may reflect the area’s character as a semi-rural built-up area with limited nightlife and lower population density, factors that likely contribute to reduced opportunities for violent crime. Anti-social behaviour (18.8% of total crimes) and other theft (12.5%) followed as the next most frequent categories, both also well below the UK average. The seasonal context of July—peak summer with schools out, tourism, and festivals—may have influenced patterns, though the overall crime rate remains low. Property crimes accounted for only 27% of incidents, compared to 50% of UK crimes, suggesting a different balance between property and violent crime in Soham. This divergence could be linked to the area’s limited retail presence and lower population density, which may reduce opportunities for theft and burglary. The data also shows a marked absence of vehicle crime and drug-related offences, which were 79% and 55% below the UK average, respectively, further reinforcing the area’s distinct crime profile. These findings illustrate how local geography and demographics shape crime trends, with Soham’s low crime rate and unique patterns offering a counterpoint to national averages.

July 2023 saw a 100% increase in drug-related crimes, rising from 0 to 1, and a similar surge in 'other crime' and burglary, both doubling from previous months. These spikes contrast with a 10% decrease in violence and sexual offences, which remained the most common category at 18 incidents. Anti-social behaviour and other theft also saw notable reductions, with the latter falling 24% below the UK average. The rise in burglary is particularly noteworthy, as it was 21% above the UK average, suggesting localized factors that may have contributed to this anomaly. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson dropped by a third, possibly linked to seasonal shifts in activity. These fluctuations illustrate the dynamic nature of crime patterns, with some categories showing marked volatility while others remain consistently low compared to national benchmarks.

Soham's crime rate in July 2023 rose by 9.2% compared to June, moving from 3.9 to 4.3 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in local patterns. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that aligns with the area’s generally low crime profile. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for roughly every 234 residents, a statistic that underscores the relatively safe environment in Soham. This figure contrasts with the UK average, where the monthly exposure would be significantly higher, though no direct comparison is available for the UK. The rise in crime rate may partly reflect seasonal factors, such as increased foot traffic during summer festivals, but the overall context remains one of low risk for residents. The population size of 11,223 further contextualises these numbers, showing that even with the 9.2% increase, the absolute number of crimes remains small in absolute terms.