Cottenham Crime Rate

Cottenham Crime Statistics

Cottenham is a safe urban settlement with an overall crime rate of 54.9 per 1,000 people per year. This is significantly lower than the UK national average of 93.1, contributing to an excellent safety score of 88/100. However, the crime trend in Cottenham is currently increasing, with a 13.9% rise year-over-year. This upward trend suggests that while the village remains a very safe place to live, residents should be increasingly aware of their surroundings and property security to help maintain the area's high safety standards.

Crime Breakdown in Cottenham

In Cottenham, violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type, representing 32.8% of all recorded incidents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour (23.3%) and criminal damage and arson (12.7%). The overall property crime rate—including burglary, theft, and vehicle crime—is 18.2 per 1,000 residents.

While the property crime rate is lower than the UK average of 32.9, it is worth noting that burglary accounts for 6.9% of all local crimes. Criminal damage is also a significant concern, appearing in the top three crime types. This indicates that for Cottenham homeowners, securing the physical boundary of their property and protecting against opportunistic damage are the most relevant security priorities.

Crime Trends in Cottenham

The crime trend in Cottenham is increasing, with a 13.9% rise over the last year. Monthly analysis shows that activity was relatively low at the start of the year, with a minimum of 2.2 per 1,000 in March 2025.

However, the rate climbed steadily through the spring and summer, reaching a high of 6.3 in October 2025. This upward trajectory suggests that the village has seen a consistent increase in reported incidents as the year progressed. Residents should be aware of this trend and maintain a high level of vigilance, particularly during the autumn months.

How To Keep Safe in Cottenham

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequent crime type in Cottenham. To stay safe in the village, consider these actionable tips:

1. Stick to well-lit main roads when walking through the village at night, and avoid less-populated footpaths.
2. Be aware of your surroundings near local shops and social hubs where anti-social behaviour is more frequently reported.
3. Ensure your home's windows and doors are securely locked, especially as burglary accounts for nearly 7% of local crime.
4. If you witness criminal damage or anti-social behaviour, report it to the local authorities to help them monitor and address hotspots.
5. Keep valuables in your vehicle out of sight, even though vehicle crime is relatively low (2.9%), to prevent opportunistic theft.

Cottenham Time Patterns

Crime in Cottenham shows distinct patterns throughout the day. Mornings and afternoons are characterized by theft-related offences (28% and 30% respectively), with burglary peaking in the afternoon at 29%. This suggests that daytime activity is often targeted at unattended properties.

In the evening, "other" crimes—frequently anti-social behaviour—rise to 60% of recorded incidents. The night-time period (12am - 6am) sees a shift towards property threats, with burglary reaching 30% and vehicle crime at 22%. These figures indicate that while the village is active with commercial and opportunistic theft during the day, residential property boundaries are most at risk during the late-night and early-morning hours.

Regional Comparison

When compared to its neighbours, Cottenham (54.9) has a similar crime rate to Oakington (53.4) and is safer than Longstanton and Northstowe (60.4) and Histon and Impington (68.7). Smaller neighbouring villages like Rampton and Landbeach report a 0.0 crime rate. This positioning shows that Cottenham is one of the safer large villages in the South Cambridgeshire area, though it does experience more activity than the most rural surrounding hamlets.

Protecting Your Cottenham Property

With property crime in Cottenham at 18.2 per 1,000 and an increasing trend, proactive security is becoming more important. Traditional CCTV systems are reactive; they provide you with footage of a burglary after it has already happened. In a village like Cottenham, where criminal damage and burglary are key concerns, preventing an incident before it occurs is the best approach.

The scOS operating system offers proactive protection by using AI to monitor your property boundaries. It can distinguish between a delivery driver and a suspicious loiterer, only alerting you to real threats. For Cottenham residents, scOS’s autonomous responses—such as engaging lights or speakers—can deter an intruder in the first 60 seconds of them stepping onto your property. This proactive intelligence turns your security from a recording device into a preventative shield, ensuring that your home and vehicles are protected before any harm is done.