South Cambridgeshire Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

South Cambridgeshire’s crime rate in October 2024 stood at 4.5 per 1,000 residents, placing it 44.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000—a position that highlights the area’s comparative safety. This performance aligns with its character as a largely rural and suburban district, where lower population density and community-focused policing may contribute to the sustained gap between local and national rates. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 33.4% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (18.9%) and vehicle crime (10.0%). These figures suggest a focus on interpersonal conflicts and property-related issues, with the latter category showing a slight edge over the UK average. Seasonal factors may also play a role: as clocks go back and evenings darken, the increased prevalence of violence and anti-social behaviour could be linked to reduced visibility and heightened social activity around Halloween. However, the overall crime rate remains firmly below the UK average, a trend that may be partly explained by the area’s mix of affluent residential zones, green spaces, and limited urban density, which could reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The relatively low rates of theft from the person and burglary—each below 0.3 per 1,000—further support the idea that South Cambridgeshire’s environment is not conducive to opportunistic crimes. While the area’s safety record is strong, the sharp rise in robbery and drug-related offences in October underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and targeted strategies to address emerging challenges.

October 2024 saw a sharp increase in robbery incidents, rising from 2 to 8—a 300% jump—marking the most significant single-month rise in this category. Concurrently, drug-related offences surged by 133.3%, with reports climbing from 6 to 14, suggesting potential shifts in local patterns or increased reporting. Theft from the person also doubled, from 0 to 1, a stark anomaly that may reflect seasonal factors such as Halloween. These spikes contrast with declines in other areas: anti-social behaviour dropped by 9.9% (161 to 145), and public order offences fell by 23.4% (47 to 36). Vehicle crime in the area remained slightly above the UK average, with a rate of 0.5 per 1,000 compared to the national figure of 0.5 per 1,000—a 6% disparity that, while minor, suggests local vulnerabilities in this category. For residents, the most immediate concern is the tripling of robbery incidents, which may indicate a need for heightened vigilance in high-traffic or poorly lit areas, particularly as darker evenings set in.

South Cambridgeshire's crime rate in October 2024 rose by 2.5% compared to the previous month, moving from 4.4 to 4.5 per 1,000 residents. While this slight increase is notable, the area remains 44.4% below the UK average, a consistent trend that underscores its relative safety. On a daily basis, the area experiences roughly 25 reported crimes each day—a figure that, when contextualised against the local population, translates to one crime occurring for every 224 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate, though seemingly low, reflects the area’s broader demographic and geographic profile, which includes a mix of rural and urban environments. With a population of 172,544, the crime statistics suggest that the vast majority of residents are unaffected by criminal activity, though the small but significant increases in specific categories, such as robbery and drug-related offences, warrant attention. These figures, when paired with the area’s historical trends, indicate that while South Cambridgeshire is generally secure, targeted interventions may still be necessary to address emerging patterns.