Cambourne Crime Rate

Cambourne is a notably safe urban settlement with a safety score of 87/100, far exceeding the UK average of 79/100. The town's overall crime rate is 53.1 per 1,000 residents, which is significantly lower than the national average of 91.6. Most encouragingly, the crime trend in Cambourne is decreasing, with a 9.9% reduction in reported incidents over the last year. This positive trajectory, combined with a property crime rate of just 15.5 per 1,000 (well below the UK average of 32.2), makes Cambourne one of the more secure locations in South Cambridgeshire. The data from Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 paints a picture of a community where safety is high and crime is actively trending downwards.

Crime in Cambourne

Crime in Cambourne is primarily characterised by violence and sexual offences, which constitute 41.8% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 18.4% and shoplifting at 10.8%. These three categories represent the majority of police activity in the area. Property crime overall—including burglary, robbery, theft, criminal damage, and vehicle crime—occurs at a rate of 15.5 per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 32.2. Specifically, burglary and vehicle crime are relatively infrequent, with rates of 1.4 and 1.8 per 1,000 respectively. For residents, this means that while personal safety and retail-related offences are the most statistically significant concerns, the risk to homes and vehicles is comparatively low. However, the prevalence of shoplifting suggests that commercial areas require dedicated security focus to maintain the town's overall safety score.

The crime trend in Cambourne is notably positive, with a year-over-year decrease of 9.9%. Looking at the monthly data for 2025, the crime rate began at 4.0 per 1,000 in January, spiked to its highest point of 5.6 in February, and then saw a general downward trend with some fluctuations. The year ended with a rate of 4.2 in December. This overall reduction suggests that Cambourne is becoming safer over time. The mid-year period saw a secondary peak in June (5.5), but the subsequent months, particularly August (3.0), showed significantly lower activity. This downward trajectory is a reassuring sign for residents, indicating that the town is maintaining its high safety standards.

How To Keep Safe in Cambourne

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crime type in Cambourne, accounting for 41.8% of incidents. To stay safe, residents should remain aware of their surroundings, particularly in the town's commercial and central areas. When walking late at night, try to stay with a group and use well-lit paths. As shoplifting is also a top crime category, being vigilant in retail environments can help; report any suspicious behaviour to store staff or security. For vehicle owners, the spike in night-time vehicle crime (38%) suggests that parking in well-lit areas or using a garage is highly beneficial. Ensure no valuables are left on display in your car. Finally, because anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue, participating in community forums or reporting incidents via the police non-emergency line helps ensure that Cambourne remains the safe, family-friendly environment it is known to be. Simple proactive measures can significantly reduce the already low risk of becoming a victim of crime.

In Cambourne, crime follows distinct temporal patterns. During the morning and afternoon hours, theft-related offences are most common, peaking at 45% of all incidents between 12pm and 6pm. This aligns with the opening hours of local businesses and retail hubs. As the day transitions into the evening and night, the focus shifts towards property and vehicle-related crime. Vehicle crime is particularly prevalent during the night (12am to 6am), accounting for 38% of all reports in that period. Burglary also shows a slight increase during these late hours. This suggests that while daytime crime is largely commercial, night-time crime is more opportunistic and residential in nature.

Cambourne sits in a relatively low-crime corridor. Compared to Highfields Caldecote, which has a higher crime rate of 59.5 per 1,000, Cambourne is statistically safer. It is surrounded by very small rural settlements such as Caxton, Bourn, and Elsworth, all of which reported zero crimes in the Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 data period. While Cambourne has the higher crime rate of this group due to its larger population and commercial centre, its rate of 53.1 remains extremely low for an urban area. For those looking for a balance between modern amenities and high levels of safety, Cambourne compares very favourably to both its immediate neighbours and the broader UK average.

With a property crime rate of 15.5 per 1,000 in Cambourne, residents are already in a lower-risk environment than much of the UK. However, the goal of modern security is to eliminate that risk entirely. Traditional CCTV and DIY doorbell cameras are reactive; they record a crime while it happens and notify you after the fact. In contrast, scOS (Security Operating System) provides proactive protection designed to prevent the crime from ever occurring. By using AI to detect threats at the property boundary, scOS can intervene in real-time. If an unknown person lingers or approaches a vehicle at night—when 38% of Cambourne's night-time crime is vehicle-related—scOS can autonomously activate lights and speakers to deter them. This 'element of surprise' usually causes intruders to move on within 60 seconds. For Cambourne homeowners, scOS offers professional-grade intelligence that learns your family's routines and only alerts you to genuine threats, providing a level of security that transforms a home from being merely 'monitored' to being actively protected.