Sawston Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Sawston’s July 2024 crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents places the area 41.7% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, underscoring its status as a relatively safe built-up area within South Cambridgeshire. Violent crimes, accounting for 41.7% of all incidents, were the most common category, followed by criminal damage and arson (16.7%) and anti-social behaviour (13.9%). This distribution reflects the area’s character as a small, densely populated community where interpersonal conflicts and property-related incidents dominate. The seasonal context of July—peak summer with schools out, festivals, and increased tourism—likely contributes to higher visibility of violent and anti-social incidents. However, the area’s crime profile remains distinct from the UK average, with violent crime rates 26% below the national figure and anti-social behaviour 52% below. This contrast may be attributed to Sawston’s smaller size, limited nightlife, and lower population density compared to major urban centres. The relatively low rates of theft from the person and vehicle crime further suggest that the area’s built-up nature does not align with high-risk environments typically associated with urban centres. These patterns highlight a community where localised factors, such as seasonal events and community cohesion, play a significant role in shaping crime trends.

July 2024 saw a 200% surge in drug-related crimes, rising from one to three incidents, a stark contrast to the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000 residents. This spike may partly explain the 12.6% overall increase in the area’s crime rate compared to June. Meanwhile, violent crimes fell by 6.3%, from 16 to 15, a decline that aligns with the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour remained significantly below the national rate, with 0.7 per 1,000 residents compared to the UK’s 1.4 per 1,000. The sharp rise in criminal damage and arson—up 50% to six incidents—presents a notable shift, though it still falls below the UK average. For residents, the 200% increase in drug-related crimes offers a concrete data point to consider when assessing local safety trends during the summer months.

Sawston's crime rate in July 2024 rose 12.6% from 4.4 to 4.9 per 1,000 residents compared to June, reflecting a slight upward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day during July, a figure that contextualises the local impact of reported incidents. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 203 residents, highlighting the relatively low frequency of crime in this built-up area. This monthly exposure rate, when considered alongside the population of 7,304, suggests that residents face a much lower risk of being directly affected by crime than the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Sawston remains significantly safer than the national picture, with its crime rate 41.7% below the UK average. These figures, while showing a modest increase, still place Sawston in a category of communities with lower crime rates, a trend consistent with its character as a small, built-up area within a rural district.