Sawston Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Sawston's crime profile in August 2024 reveals a striking imbalance between violent and property-related offences, with violence and sexual offences accounting for over half of all reported crimes. At 5.1 per 1,000 residents, the area's crime rate remains 37.8% below the UK average of 8.2, a disparity that reflects both the relatively low overall volume of incidents and the specific nature of crimes reported. The dominance of violent crime — 20 incidents compared to 7 property crimes — contrasts with national patterns where property offences often outnumber violent ones. This mix may be influenced by local factors such as the built-up area's density and the presence of community spaces that could contribute to interpersonal conflicts. Seasonal context further complicates the picture: August, a peak holiday month, typically sees increased tourism and temporary changes in resident activity, which may heighten risks for certain crimes like shoplifting or vehicle crime. However, the data shows no significant spikes in burglary or theft from the person, suggesting that the area's smaller scale and stronger community cohesion may mitigate some risks. The UK average for violent crime (2.7 per 1,000) matches exactly with Sawston's rate for this category, indicating that local violent crime levels are in line with national benchmarks despite the overall lower crime rate. Anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, was 44% below the UK average, a statistic that could reflect effective local policing or the area's character as a tightly knit community where such behaviour is less tolerated or less likely to occur. These patterns highlight the need to consider both absolute numbers and their distribution across crime types when assessing safety in Sawston, a built-up area with distinct characteristics that shape its crime profile differently from larger urban centres.

August 2024 saw three specific crime types — vehicle crime, shoplifting, and bicycle theft — each increase by 100% compared to July, reflecting sudden spikes in these categories. These jumps occurred despite an overall 2.8% rise in the area's crime rate, which remained well below the UK average. The balance of crime types reveals a significant contrast: 54.1% of all incidents were violent or sexual offences, compared to 16.2% for anti-social behaviour and 8.1% for public order. This mix aligns with the UK average for violent crime (2.7 per 1,000) but shows marked underperformance in property-related categories, where anti-social behaviour was 44% below the national average. For residents, the sharp rise in vehicle crime — from zero to one incident — may signal heightened activity in local car parks or roads, though no further data explains this shift.

Sawston's crime rate in August 2024 rose by 2.8% compared to July, moving from 4.9 to 5.1 per 1,000 residents. This small increase contrasts with the broader trend of lower-than-average crime rates in the area, which remain 37.8% below the UK average. Locally, the daily crime count averaged one incident per day over the 31-day period, a figure that may appear low but reflects the area's relatively small population of 7,304. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 197 residents, a statistic that contextualises the rarity of incidents within this built-up area. The population context also highlights how Sawston's compact size and lower density may naturally limit opportunities for certain types of crime, though exceptions like vehicle crime and shoplifting show occasional spikes. This comparison underscores the importance of considering both absolute and relative measures when assessing safety in smaller communities.