South Cambridgeshire Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile in South Cambridgeshire during November 2024 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property-related offences, shaped by the area's mix of urban and rural characteristics. With a crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents, the local authority district recorded 735 total crimes, placing it 43.4% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 36.2% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (18.1%) and shoplifting (8.6%). This pattern suggests a local context where interpersonal conflicts and community tensions may play a role, though the rates remain lower than national benchmarks. Seasonal factors such as Bonfire Night and the Black Friday shopping period likely influenced the timing of certain crimes, particularly shoplifting, which saw a 31.3% increase month-on-month. The relatively low levels of property crime—especially burglary (0.3 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000)—contrast with the UK averages, indicating that South Cambridgeshire's suburban and rural landscapes may offer protective factors against such offences. However, the persistent presence of anti-social behaviour at 18.1% of total crimes highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining community safety, particularly in areas with higher population densities or transient populations. This data underscores the need to consider both the geographical and socioeconomic dynamics of the region when interpreting crime trends.

November 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with shoplifting increasing by 31.3% (48 to 63 incidents) and burglary rising by 19.5% (41 to 49). These increases may reflect the impact of Black Friday promotions, which often coincide with higher retail theft activity. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 39.0% (77 to 47), potentially linked to reduced car usage during the darker evenings of November. Robbery rates dropped sharply by 62.5% (8 to 3), a decline that could be attributed to seasonal factors or improved policing in high-risk areas. The breakdown of crime types reveals a striking contrast to the UK average: violence and sexual offences in South Cambridgeshire are 42% below the national rate, while bicycle theft is 43% above, a unique anomaly that may relate to the area's cycling infrastructure and commuter demographics. For residents, the most immediately relevant insight is the 31.3% surge in shoplifting, which could prompt local retailers to enhance security measures during peak shopping periods. This data also highlights the importance of contextual factors—such as the area's mix of affluent suburbs and rural communities—in shaping crime trends that diverge from national averages.

South Cambridgeshire's crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 in November 2024 marks a 4.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.5 per 1,000, reflecting a slight but consistent trend of declining crime. When viewed through the lens of daily crime activity, the district experienced an average of 24 crimes per day during the month—a figure that provides a tangible sense of the scale of incidents affecting residents. Over the course of November, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 235 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average, which would be expected to be much higher given the overall national crime rate. This statistic underscores the relative safety of South Cambridgeshire compared to other parts of the country, particularly in light of its population of 172,544 residents. The district's performance is especially notable in categories such as violence and sexual offences, where the rate of 1.5 per 1,000 is 42% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000, suggesting that community policing strategies and local initiatives may be contributing to this disparity. However, the elevated rate of bicycle theft (0.1 per 1,000) compared to the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000 highlights a specific vulnerability that could be addressed through targeted interventions in areas with high cycling activity.