South Cambridgeshire Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in South Cambridgeshire during November 2023 reveals a distinct pattern shaped by both seasonal factors and the area's character. With a crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents—48% below the UK average—this local authority district demonstrates a markedly lower incidence of crime compared to national trends. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 32.3% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (13.3%) and criminal damage and arson (10.9%). This distribution suggests a balance between interpersonal conflicts and property-related issues, consistent with a mixed area comprising rural landscapes, small towns, and commuter-focused suburbs. Seasonal factors likely influenced this pattern: Bonfire Night events may have contributed to increased anti-social behaviour, while the pre-Christmas shopping period could have heightened concerns around theft. Violent crime rates in South Cambridgeshire were 50% below the UK average (1.3 per 1,000), a figure that may reflect the area's relatively stable communities and limited exposure to high-density urban environments. However, the presence of violence and sexual offences at this level indicates that targeted interventions remain necessary, particularly in areas with transient populations or late-night retail hubs. The low prevalence of shoplifting (0.1 per 1,000) and bicycle theft (0.1 per 1,000) contrasts with UK averages, suggesting that local policing strategies or community engagement efforts may be effectively deterring these crimes. As November transitioned into darker evenings, the interplay between reduced visibility and seasonal festivities likely created conditions that both challenged and shaped local crime dynamics.

November 2023 saw stark contrasts in crime trends, with some categories surging while others declined sharply. Theft from the person rose 300% month-on-month, increasing from one reported incident to four. This spike, though still extremely low in absolute terms (0.0 per 1,000), may reflect heightened caution during the Black Friday shopping period or increased foot traffic in retail areas. Conversely, vehicle crime fell 35.7% (98 → 63), potentially linked to reduced car usage during colder weather or improved community policing in car parks. The crime mix also shifted significantly: violent crime (32.3% of total) outpaced property crime (41.3%), a reversal from the previous month's balance. This shift may indicate seasonal pressures on community cohesion, though it remains below UK averages for both categories. For context, shoplifting rates in South Cambridgeshire were 82% below the UK average (0.1 vs 0.6 per 1,000), a figure that could be attributed to the area's limited high-street retail presence compared to larger urban centres. Meanwhile, bicycle theft rates were 25% above the UK average, due to the popularity of cycling in Cambridgeshire's commuter corridors. These variations highlight the importance of tailored crime prevention strategies that account for both local geography and temporal factors.

The November 2023 crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 in South Cambridgeshire marked a 22.4% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.0 per 1,000, reflecting a continued downward trend. On a daily basis, this equated to approximately 22 crimes per day across the district—a figure that, while non-zero, remains significantly lower than the UK average when scaled to South Cambridgeshire's population of 172,544. Over the course of November, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 258 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area's relative safety compared to national benchmarks. When contextualised against the local population, the 3.9 per 1,000 rate suggests that the vast majority of residents (over 99%) were not directly affected by crime during the month. This is particularly notable given the district's mix of rural and suburban environments, where lower population densities typically correlate with reduced opportunities for certain types of crime. The contrast with the UK average becomes even more pronounced when considering specific categories: for instance, anti-social behaviour rates in South Cambridgeshire were 52% below the national average, potentially reflecting the area's strong community networks and local governance structures. These figures illustrate a district where crime prevention efforts appear to be working, though the persistent presence of violent crime at 1.3 per 1,000 highlights the need for continued vigilance in areas with higher social interaction, such as town centres and transport hubs.