South Cambridgeshire Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated South Cambridgeshire’s crime profile in January 2024, contributing to 33.4% of all reported crimes. At 3.7 crimes per 1,000 residents, the local authority’s overall crime rate was 50.0% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, a stark contrast to the national profile. This marked deviation reflects the area’s character as a largely rural district with limited urban density, where community policing and lower population concentrations may contribute to reduced opportunities for certain crimes. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage followed closely, accounting for 18.7% and 10.7% of incidents respectively, suggesting a pattern of low-level disputes and property-related issues rather than violent or large-scale criminal activity. Seasonal context appears to play a role, as January—a post-holiday period with shorter daylight hours and reduced retail footfall—typically sees a dip in shoplifting and vehicle crime. However, the dominance of violence and sexual offences highlights a need to explore local factors, such as social dynamics in smaller communities or the impact of isolated incidents amplified in lower-population areas. The data aligns with broader trends in rural regions, where violent crime often constitutes a larger share of total incidents compared to urban centres, possibly due to closer-knit social networks and fewer anonymous public spaces.

January 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with possession of weapons increasing by 200% compared to December, a rare spike that may reflect heightened tensions or targeted enforcement. Bicycle theft rose by 83.3%, potentially linked to colder weather driving more indoor activity and leaving bikes unsecured in less visible locations. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 52.2%, likely influenced by shorter days and reduced parking congestion in rural areas. Violence and sexual offences remained significantly below the UK average, with rates 54% lower than the national figure of 2.6 per 1,000, suggesting effective local interventions or community cohesion. Anti-social behaviour also lagged behind the UK average by 29%, a trend consistent with South Cambridgeshire’s lower population density and fewer crowded public spaces. Bicycle theft—while still below the UK average—rose sharply, indicating a need for targeted awareness campaigns. Residents may find the 83.3% increase in bicycle theft particularly relevant, as it underscores a vulnerability in personal property security during colder months.

South Cambridgeshire’s crime rate in January 2024 rose slightly by 3.1% from December’s 3.6 per 1,000, though it remains far below the UK average. Daily crime figures show 21 crimes reported each day in January, a manageable frequency for a district of 172,544 residents. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 270 residents, a rate that suggests a relatively safe environment compared to larger urban areas. This monthly exposure metric, while not directly comparable to UK-wide statistics, highlights the area’s low crime density. The population context further illustrates this: with 172,544 residents, the 638 total crimes represent a crime rate that is both geographically and demographically distinct. Rural areas like South Cambridgeshire often exhibit lower crime rates due to factors such as greater community oversight, fewer transient populations, and limited commercial activity outside of key towns. These characteristics may explain why violent crime, while present, does not dominate as it does in more densely populated regions. The comparison underscores that South Cambridgeshire’s crime profile is shaped by its rural nature, where crime tends to be more sporadic and less frequent, even as specific categories like violence and sexual offences remain represented.