St Ives (Huntingdonshire) Crime Rate

St Ives in Huntingdonshire maintains a safety profile that is significantly better than the national average, with an overall crime rate of 67.5 per 1,000 residents compared to the UK average of 93.1. The town’s safety score of 84/100 further reflects its status as a secure place to live. Recent data shows a stable trend, with only a 4.8% change year-over-year, indicating a consistent environment for the population of nearly 17,000. While the figures are encouraging, understanding the specific types of crime and when they occur is key for residents looking to maintain their personal and property security.

In St Ives, violence and sexual offences represent the most significant portion of reported crime, accounting for 39.1% of all incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 18.6% and shoplifting at 7.3%. The overall property crime rate in the town is 20.1 per 1,000 residents, which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft. While this is lower than the national average, the presence of criminal damage and arson (6.2%) and vehicle crime (4.7%) highlights the need for continued vigilance among local property owners. For residents, this means that while the town is generally safe, opportunistic property offences and public order issues are the primary secondary concerns after personal safety.

St Ives has maintained a stable crime trend over the last year, with a 4.8% change. Monthly data for 2025 shows that crime rates started the year at 4.4 in November 2024 and rose to a peak of 7.0 in July 2025. There was a notable dip in September (4.3) before returning to 7.0 in October. This pattern indicates that while the overall year-on-year change is minimal, the town experiences significant monthly fluctuations, with the summer months and early autumn seeing the highest levels of reported activity. Residents should remain particularly alert during these peak periods.

How To Keep Safe in St Ives (Huntingdonshire)

As violence and sexual offences are the most common reports in St Ives, personal safety in public spaces is a priority. When visiting the town centre or the Quay, especially during the evening, stay in well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings. Since theft-related crimes are more frequent in the morning and afternoon, shoppers should keep bags zipped and valuables secure while in commercial areas. For vehicle owners, the high percentage of vehicle crime at night (41% of night-time offences) means parking in a garage or well-lit driveway is essential. Using a steering lock or an additional immobiliser can also serve as a visible deterrent to opportunistic thieves. Joining local community groups on social media can also help you stay informed about any sudden spikes in anti-social behaviour in specific neighbourhoods.

Crime in St Ives follows distinct temporal patterns. The morning and afternoon periods are dominated by theft, which accounts for 41% and 44% of incidents respectively, likely coinciding with retail hours and town centre footfall. As the day progresses into the evening, 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour, become the primary concern at 54%. The night-time hours see a significant shift towards vehicle crime, which makes up 41% of all offences between 12am and 6am. This suggests that while daytime activity is focused on commercial theft, the hours of darkness pose a higher risk to unattended property and vehicles.

St Ives sits in a varied local landscape. It is notably safer than Needingworth, which reports a much higher crime rate of 104.2 per 1,000. However, it experiences more activity than its smaller neighbours like Hemingford Grey (17.8) and Houghton (37.9). Hemingford Abbots remains the safest nearby area with a reported rate of 0.0. This comparison places St Ives as a middle-ground urban settlement—more active than the surrounding villages but considerably more secure than some other nearby built-up areas.

With vehicle crime peaking at night in St Ives, traditional security cameras that merely record footage are often insufficient. Most vehicle-related offences happen quickly, and having a video of the event after the fact does not prevent the loss. scOS provides a proactive alternative by using AI to detect threats at the property line. For St Ives homeowners, this means the system can identify a trespasser near your driveway and activate deterrents like lights and speakers before they touch your vehicle. By focusing on prevention rather than just recording, scOS addresses the 20.1 per 1,000 property crime rate directly, offering a professional-grade shield that traditional DIY systems lack.