South Cambridgeshire Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of South Cambridgeshire in November 2023 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property crimes, shaped by both local dynamics and seasonal influences. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, contributing 32.3% of all incidents, while anti-social behaviour and criminal damage followed closely at 13.3% and 10.9% respectively. This emphasis on violent crime contrasts with the UK average, where such offences account for 2.6 per 1,000 residents compared to South Cambridgeshire’s 1.3 per 1,000—a 50% deficit. The area’s overall crime rate of 3.9 per 1,000 residents, 48% below the UK average, suggests a combination of factors including effective policing strategies, community cohesion, or environmental design that may reduce opportunities for crime. Seasonal context plays a role, with November’s darker evenings and events like Bonfire Night potentially amplifying anti-social behaviour and public order offences. However, the area’s lower-than-average rates for shoplifting (82% below the UK average) and vehicle crime (20% below) indicate that targeted efforts, such as retail security measures or traffic management, may be contributing to these reductions. The relatively high proportion of violent crimes compared to property crimes could reflect the area’s demographic makeup, with a mix of residential and commercial zones that may create conditions where interpersonal conflicts are more likely to escalate. While the overall crime rate remains low, the prominence of violent crime highlights the need for ongoing attention to community safety initiatives that address root causes. This mix of crime types, coupled with the area’s consistent performance below national averages, illustrates a region that is managing to maintain a relatively safe environment despite the challenges posed by seasonal fluctuations.

November 2023 saw a stark contrast in crime trends, with theft from the person surging by 300%—rising from 1 to 4 incidents—despite the overall crime rate remaining below the UK average. This spike, though small in absolute terms, underscores the volatility of certain crime types, possibly linked to the darker evenings of November and the timing of events like Bonfire Night. Meanwhile, shoplifting increased by 16.7%, reflecting the influence of Black Friday shopping patterns on retail areas. On the decline side, vehicle crime dropped by 35.7% compared to October, potentially due to reduced traffic or targeted police initiatives. Violence and sexual offences—accounting for 32.3% of all crimes—remained 50% below the UK average, a consistent trend that may be influenced by the area’s demographic profile or local community dynamics.

South Cambridgeshire's crime rate in November 2023 fell to 3.9 per 1,000 residents, a 22.4% decline from the previous month's 5.0 per 1,000. This reduction aligns with a broader trend observed across the area, where daily crime counts averaged 22 incidents per day—slightly lower than the 26 recorded in October. Over the course of November, the monthly exposure rate meant that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 258 residents, a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. With a population of 172,544, the area’s lower-than-average crime rate—48% below the UK average—suggests a combination of effective policing, community engagement, or environmental factors that may contribute to sustained safety. These figures, while modest, highlight a consistent pattern of reduced risk for residents compared to both national benchmarks and recent local trends.