Sawston Crime Rate May 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Sawston’s crime rate in May 2023 stood at 3.4 per 1,000 residents, 57.5% below the UK average of 8.0. This figure reflects the area’s consistent safety, a pattern likely shaped by its character as a small, low-density built-up area within South Cambridgeshire. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 44% of total incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour at 32%. These categories are both significantly below UK averages, with violence and sexual offences 46% lower than the national rate of 2.8 per 1,000. The seasonal context of May—characterised by longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—may partly explain the rise in anti-social behaviour, which surged by 166.7% compared to April. However, the overall rate remains a testament to the area’s effective community dynamics and policing, which have historically kept crime low. The low volume of property crimes, at just 3 incidents (4% of total), further contrasts with the UK average, where property crime is typically more prevalent. This suggests a local environment where public order and interpersonal issues dominate over theft or burglary, a trend consistent with areas that balance residential and commercial activity without significant retail or industrial hubs. The month’s data also highlights the rarity of severe crimes like robbery, which occurred once, and the minimal impact of criminal damage and arson, which fell by 75% compared to the previous month.

May 2023 saw a striking 166.7% rise in anti-social behaviour, increasing from three to eight incidents. This jump, the largest month-on-month change, may partly explain the 44% share of total crimes attributed to violence and sexual offences, which dropped by 15.4% to 11 incidents. Violence and sexual offences remain 46% below the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000, while anti-social behaviour is 17% below the UK rate of 1.3 per 1,000. Robbery and other crime both rose from zero to one incident, a 100% increase for each. These changes contrast with a 75% decline in criminal damage and arson, which fell from four to one. For residents, the 166.7% surge in anti-social behaviour offers a concrete insight into local challenges, even as the overall crime rate remains significantly below national levels.

Sawston's crime rate in May 2023 fell by 16.8% compared to April, dropping from 4.1 to 3.4 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with the area’s historically low crime profile, which has consistently placed it below the UK average. On a daily basis, the month saw an average of one reported crime per day, a figure that reflects the small population of 7,304 residents. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 292 residents, a statistic that contextualises the rarity of incidents within the local community. When viewed against the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, Sawston’s rate remains 57.5% lower, underscoring the area’s relative safety. This population-scaled perspective highlights how infrequent crime is in everyday life, even during periods of seasonal social activity like May’s longer evenings and bank holidays.