Cottenham Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In November 2023, Cottenham maintained its status as a relatively low-crime area, with a total crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents — 45.3% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This figure, which translates to 28 crimes across the built-up area's population of 6,881, highlights the area's consistently safer profile compared to national benchmarks. The crime mix in November was dominated by property-related offences, with 15 incidents (53.6% of total) compared to 8 violent crimes (28.6%). This balance may reflect the area's character as a low-density, possibly semi-rural built-up zone within South Cambridgeshire, where property vulnerabilities such as residential burglary and vehicle crime are more prevalent than violent incidents. The most significant category by share was violence and sexual offences (28.6%), though this rate (1.2 per 1,000) remained 54% below the UK average. Burglary, at 0.9 per 1,000, stood out as a notable local concern, with its rate 165% above the UK average (0.3 per 1,000). This discrepancy may be explained by the area's proximity to larger urban centres, which could increase burglary opportunities for transient offenders. Seasonal factors also played a role, with November's darker evenings and post-Black Friday shopping activity influencing both property and violent crime patterns. The area's crime profile thus illustrates a combination of local vulnerabilities and broader regional influences, with property crime remaining the dominant concern for residents.

November 2023 saw a stark contrast in crime trends, with vehicle crime surging by 300% (from 1 to 4 incidents) — the most dramatic month-on-month increase in the area. This spike may partly explain the shift in the crime balance, as property crimes (15) now account for 53.6% of total incidents, compared to 28.6% for violent crimes. Violent crime itself fell by 46.7% from October's 15 to 8, a drop consistent with seasonal patterns as darker evenings and post-Black Friday shopping activity may have reduced opportunities for such incidents. Burglary rates remained 165% above the UK average (0.3 vs 0.9 per 1,000), though they fell by 50% from October's 12 to 6. This category's above-average rate, despite the decline, suggests a persistent challenge in the area's security landscape, linked to the built-up nature of Cottenham and its proximity to larger urban centres. Meanwhile, violent crime's UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 — 54% below Cottenham's rate — indicates a safer environment for residents compared to national trends.

Cottenham's crime rate in November 2023 (4.1 per 1,000 residents) represents a 29.9% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.8 per 1,000, reflecting a sustained decline in reported incidents. This reduction aligns with the area's consistently low crime profile compared to the UK average. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the 30-day period, a figure that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. When viewed through the lens of population exposure, the monthly aggregate shows that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 246 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of risk for local residents. This figure, while specific to Cottenham, highlights the area's position as one of the safer communities within South Cambridgeshire, where the combination of rural proximity and local policing efforts may contribute to the observed trends. The drop in crime rate since October suggests a possible stabilisation in local crime patterns, though seasonal factors such as shorter evenings and reduced foot traffic during November may have played a role in the decline.