Sawston Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Sawston's crime profile in October 2024, accounting for 43.3% of all reported crimes. With an overall crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents, the area remains 49.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000, a disparity that underscores the relative safety of this built-up area within South Cambridgeshire. The breakdown of crimes reveals a mix of violent and non-violent incidents, with anti-social behaviour (20%) and public order offences (10%) following closely behind. Seasonal factors, including the transition to darker evenings and the Halloween period, likely contributed to the increase in anti-social behaviour, a trend consistent with patterns observed in other rural and semi-rural areas during October. The low rate of property crimes—just 7 incidents compared to 13 violent crimes—further highlights the area's distinct crime profile, where interpersonal conflicts and disorder appear to be more prevalent than theft or burglary. This contrasts with larger urban centres, where property crimes often dominate due to higher population densities and commercial activity. The relatively low levels of burglary and vehicle crime, both of which are 70% and 46% below UK averages respectively, may be linked to Sawston's smaller population and lower levels of commercial activity compared to major cities. However, the rise in anti-social behaviour and the persistence of violence and sexual offences suggest that targeted interventions may be necessary to address localised issues during periods of reduced visibility and increased social gatherings. The data also indicates that the area's crime profile is shaped by its character as a built-up area within a rural district, where community dynamics and seasonal rhythms play a significant role in influencing crime patterns.

October 2024 saw a 200% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from 2 to 6 incidents, the most substantial month-on-month change recorded. This surge coincided with a 100% rise in 'other crime' and 'other theft' categories, both of which moved from zero to two incidents. Meanwhile, public order offences fell by 40%, dropping from five to three. The dominance of violence and sexual offences, which account for 43.3% of all reported crimes, places this category 33% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour, meanwhile, is 38% below the UK average of 1.3 per 1,000, illustrating a consistent pattern of lower rates in this category compared to national benchmarks. For residents, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour may signal a need for heightened community engagement during October's darker evenings and Halloween events.

Sawston's crime rate in October 2024 rose to 4.1 per 1,000, marking a 76.4% increase from the previous month's 2.3 per 1,000. This shift, while significant, remains well below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that reflects the small population of 7,304 residents. When considering monthly exposure, the data reveals that one crime occurred for every 243 residents in October, a metric that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local community. This rate, though higher than September, still places Sawston in a safer position compared to national averages. The population-scaled perspective highlights the relatively low frequency of crime despite the month-on-month increase, suggesting that broader socio-economic factors may be at play rather than an immediate surge in criminal activity.