Rural Peterborough Crime Rate

Rural Peterborough presents a complex safety profile with an overall crime rate of 96.0 per 1,000 people, which is slightly higher than the UK average of 91.6. Despite this, the area maintains a safety score of 76/100, indicating a relatively secure environment compared to many urban centres. Recent data shows an increasing trend, with a 25.8% rise in reported incidents year-over-year. This growth is a point of note for residents, though the property crime rate of 27.6 per 1,000 remains below the national average of 32.2. The following analysis provides a detailed breakdown of local crime patterns to help residents and visitors understand the current safety landscape in this part of Peterborough.

Crime Breakdown in Rural Peterborough

The most significant crime categories in Rural Peterborough are violence and sexual offences, which account for 44.1% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 13.8% and criminal damage and arson at 12.3%. While these figures reflect broader social challenges, property-related crime remains a significant concern for the local community.

Collectively, property crimes—which include burglary, vehicle crime, theft from the person, bicycle theft, and other theft—occur at a rate of 27.6 per 1,000 residents. This category makes up a sizeable portion of the area's criminal activity. For homeowners, the burglary rate is relatively low at 3.0 per 1,000, but vehicle crime and 'other theft' contribute more substantially to the property crime total. These statistics highlight the importance of maintaining vigilant home and vehicle security to mitigate the risk of opportunistic theft in this urban-rural fringe.

Crime Trends in Rural Peterborough

The crime rate in Rural Peterborough has experienced a significant upward shift, with a 25.8% increase year-over-year. This trend indicates a growing number of reported incidents across the settlement. Looking at the monthly data for 2025, the crime rate remained relatively stable between 3.4 and 10.3 per 1,000 for most of the year.

However, November 2025 stands out as a major anomaly, with the crime rate surging to 23.6 per 1,000. This spike significantly influenced the overall annual trend and suggests a period of heightened activity or a specific series of incidents during that month. Following this peak, the rate returned to a more typical level of 6.4 in December. For residents, this volatility suggests that while the area is generally stable, specific months can see rapid increases in criminal activity, necessitating year-round vigilance.

How To Keep Safe in Rural Peterborough

Violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime types in Rural Peterborough, accounting for over 44% of reported incidents. While many of these cases are not random, maintaining personal safety in public spaces is always advisable.

Firstly, stay aware of your surroundings when walking alone, especially during the hours of darkness. Stick to well-lit, familiar routes and avoid shortcuts through isolated areas. Secondly, consider using personal safety apps that allow you to share your location with trusted contacts in real-time. Thirdly, ensure that your home's exterior is well-lit with motion-activated lighting to discourage anti-social behaviour near your property. Finally, if you witness suspicious activity or feel unsafe, do not hesitate to contact local authorities; early intervention is often the best way to prevent incidents from escalating.

Crime Timing in Rural Peterborough

Crime in Rural Peterborough exhibits clear temporal trends. The afternoon period, between 12pm and 6pm, is the peak time for theft-related offences, which comprise 47% of crimes during these hours. This likely coincides with periods when residents are away from home and commercial activity is at its height.

As evening transitions into night, the nature of crime shifts. Between 12am and 6am, vehicle crime becomes significantly more prominent, accounting for 36% of all incidents. This suggests that offenders target vehicles under the cover of darkness when they are most likely to be stationary and unattended. Interestingly, burglary remains a consistent threat across both the afternoon and night, with 15% of all burglaries occurring in each of these windows. Understanding these patterns allows residents to be more targeted in their security habits, such as ensuring vehicles are extra secure overnight.

Rural Peterborough is an integral part of the wider Peterborough region. When compared to the core urban areas of the local authority, it typically experiences a different crime dynamic. While the local authority average can be influenced by high-density city centre activity, Rural Peterborough's rate of 96.0 reflects its unique position as a transitional zone. Residents looking at the region will find that while some nearby urban settlements may have higher overall volumes, Rural Peterborough's safety score of 76/100 remains competitive. Understanding these regional variations is crucial for those evaluating the safety of the broader Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area.

Protecting Your Property in Rural Peterborough

With a property crime rate of 27.6 per 1,000, residents of Rural Peterborough should consider the limitations of traditional security. Most standard CCTV systems are reactive; they record high-quality footage of a crime but do nothing to stop it. For true peace of mind, proactive protection is essential.

The scOS artificial intelligence operating system transforms your security from a passive observer into an active deterrent. Instead of notifying you after a window has been smashed, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to identify suspicious patterns at your property boundary. If an unauthorised individual lingers, the system can autonomously activate lights and speakers, destroying the element of surprise that burglars rely on. In an area where vehicle crime is a noted night-time concern, scOS’s ability to verify vehicle plates and monitor routines means it only alerts you to genuine threats, allowing you to sleep soundly while your home protects itself.