St Ives (Huntingdonshire) Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

St Ives (Huntingdonshire) maintains a crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents in February 2024, placing it 38% below the UK average of 7.1. This continues a pattern observed in recent months, with the area consistently recording lower crime levels than the national benchmark. The balance of crime types reveals a notable shift: violent crimes (27 incidents) now outnumber property crimes (24 incidents) for the first time this year, suggesting a change in the nature of local crime dynamics. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 36% of total crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (16%) and vehicle crime (9.3%). This contrast to the UK average, where violence and sexual offences typically make up around 36% of all crimes, but property-related offences are more prevalent. The seasonal context of February—marked by reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may partly explain the lower overall crime rate, though the shift in crime type balance remains an area for further observation. The data highlights a combination of local demographics and seasonal factors, with the built-up area’s characteristics likely influencing the dominance of violent over property crime. While the overall rate remains low, the rise in violent incidents compared to property crime could indicate evolving patterns in community safety that warrant closer attention.

February 2024 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime surging by 250% (from 2 to 7 incidents) and drugs-related offences doubling (from 0 to 3). This contrasts with notable decreases in shoplifting (-75%, from 4 to 1) and bicycle theft (-60%, from 5 to 2). The balance between property and violent crime shifted markedly, with violent crimes now outpacing property crimes for the first time this year. This shift may reflect underlying factors such as increased local tensions or changes in policing focus. The area’s violent crime rate (1.6 per 1,000) remains 36% below the UK average (2.5 per 1,000), suggesting effective community policing or demographic factors that mitigate violent incidents. However, the increase in vehicle crime—potentially linked to seasonal changes in car usage or targeted thefts—raises questions about local vulnerabilities. For residents, the rise in drugs-related offences (now at 0.2 per 1,000) may signal a need for enhanced awareness in specific neighbourhoods, though the small absolute numbers suggest this remains a minor concern compared to other categories.

St Ives’ crime rate rose by 13.6% in February 2024 compared to the previous month’s rate of 3.9 per 1,000, reflecting a slight upward trend despite remaining well below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 3 crimes per day over the 29-day period, a figure that provides context for local residents assessing risk levels. Monthly exposure data shows that one reported crime occurred for every 226 residents in February, a rate that, while low, is a monthly aggregate and not indicative of daily probabilities. When scaled to the area’s population of 16,924, the 75 total crimes represent a manageable burden, though the increase in violent incidents compared to property crime may require targeted interventions. The built-up nature of St Ives, combined with its relatively low population density compared to major urban centres, likely contributes to the area’s consistently lower crime rates. However, the shift in crime type balance—violent crimes now outpacing property crimes—suggests a need for tailored strategies addressing the specific factors driving this change, such as local social dynamics or seasonal influences.