Peterborough Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Peterborough in May 2025 reveals a striking imbalance between violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 38.1% of all reported incidents. This figure, significantly higher than the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000 for the same category, underscores the city’s particular challenges in managing interpersonal crime. Anti-social behaviour, at 18.6% of total crimes, further compounds the issue, suggesting a persistent pattern of disruptive activity that may be linked to urban density and social dynamics. Shoplifting, though lower in proportion (9.0%), still exceeds UK averages by 64%, reflecting the impact of retail hubs and high foot traffic in central areas. Seasonal factors in May—such as extended evenings and bank holidays—likely contribute to the rise in violent and anti-social offences, as outdoor drinking and socialising increase. The overall crime rate of 11.7 per 1,000 residents places Peterborough 44.4% above the UK average, highlighting a need for targeted interventions in areas where violence and disorder are concentrated. This mix of crime types indicates a city grappling with both immediate public safety concerns and deeper systemic issues that require sustained attention.

May 2025 saw notable month-on-month changes, with robbery increasing by 30% (from 20 to 26 incidents) and other crime rising by 29.7% (from 64 to 83). These spikes, particularly in robbery, suggest either heightened risk in specific areas or shifts in criminal activity patterns. Conversely, public order offences declined by 10.6% (from 170 to 152), possibly reflecting early enforcement efforts or seasonal moderation in nightlife-related disturbances. The dominance of violent crime—59% above the UK average—contrasts sharply with the relatively lower rates of theft from the person (33% below UK average), indicating that while personal property crimes are managed, interpersonal violence remains a critical concern. The significant 64% above UK average for shoplifting highlights vulnerabilities in retail environments, potentially tied to the city’s commercial corridors. Residents may find the 1-in-85 resident monthly exposure figure particularly relevant, as it contextualises the scale of crime relative to population size. These findings reveal a combination of local conditions and broader trends, requiring tailored strategies to address the most pressing issues.

Peterborough’s crime rate in May 2025 (11.7 per 1,000) represents a 2.5% increase from April’s 11.4 per 1,000, marking a slight upward trend. On a daily basis, the city experienced approximately 84 crimes per day, a figure that, while not directly comparable to national data, illustrates the volume of incidents in a local context. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 85 residents, a statistic that, when considered alongside the city’s population of 223,655, underscores the frequency of crime in a relatively large urban area. This monthly exposure rate is higher than the UK average, which, if applied to Peterborough’s population, would translate to fewer incidents per capita. The disparity between Peterborough and the UK average is most pronounced in violent crimes, which are 59% above the national figure. This suggests that the city’s social and environmental factors—such as its status as a regional hub with diverse demographics and economic activity—may contribute to higher rates of interpersonal crime. While the increase from April is modest, it reinforces the need for ongoing analysis of trends and targeted interventions to manage the persistent gap between local and national crime profiles.