South Cambridgeshire Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated South Cambridgeshire's crime profile in January 2026, accounting for 35.6% of all reported crimes and contributing to the area's overall crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents. This rate is 33.3% below the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000, a consistent trend that reflects the district's lower levels of criminal activity compared to national benchmarks. The prominence of violent crime—268 incidents in total—contrasts with the UK average rate of 2.4 per 1,000 for the same category, indicating that South Cambridgeshire's violent crime rate is 34% below the national figure. This disparity may be attributed to the area's demographic characteristics, including a higher proportion of affluent households and a strong presence of educational institutions that contribute to community stability. Anti-social behaviour, the second most common category, accounted for 16.8% of total crimes and remained 23% below the UK average, suggesting effective local interventions in managing public order. The seasonal context of January—marked by shorter days and reduced retail activity—may have influenced patterns, with shoplifting incidents dropping by 42.9% compared to the previous month. However, this reduction was offset by increases in vehicle crime and weapons possession, highlighting the combination of factors affecting local crime dynamics. The area's crime profile, while showing resilience in some areas, requires continued monitoring to address emerging trends such as the sharp rise in robbery and weapons-related offences.

January 2026 saw a sharp 175% increase in possession of weapons, with incidents rising from 4 to 11. This spike may reflect heightened tensions during the post-holiday period or changes in local enforcement priorities. Robbery rates also surged by 150%, jumping from 4 to 10 cases, a figure that contrasts with the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. Meanwhile, shoplifting decreased by 42.9%, with incidents falling from 35 to 20—a trend consistent with the seasonal context of reduced retail footfall in January. Anti-social behaviour, which contributes 16.8% of total crimes, remained 23% below the UK average, reinforcing the area's generally lower levels of disorderly conduct. Vehicle crime increased by 71.4%, from 35 to 60 incidents, a rise that may be linked to colder weather driving more vehicle-related thefts. These fluctuations illustrate the dynamic nature of local crime patterns, with some categories showing marked divergence from national trends.

South Cambridgeshire's crime rate in January 2026 remained stable at 4.4 per 1,000 residents, a 1.9% increase from the previous month's 4.3 rate. This consistency suggests no major shifts in overall crime trends during the period. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 24 crimes per day, a figure that aligns with the district's historical patterns of moderate criminal activity. When scaled to the population of 172,544, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 229 residents, a statistic that provides context for residents assessing local safety. The stability in the crime rate contrasts with the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000, highlighting South Cambridgeshire's position as a relatively low-crime area. This comparison underscores the effectiveness of local policing strategies or the influence of the area's demographic profile, which may include a mix of suburban and rural environments with lower population density contributing to reduced opportunities for certain types of crime.