Waterbeach Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Waterbeach’s crime rate in January 2026 was 3.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 52.9% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure underscores the area’s status as a safer locality. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 35.3% of all reported crimes, with 6 incidents recorded—a rate of 1.1 per 1,000 residents, 56% below the UK average for this category. This outlier highlights a potential disconnect between Waterbeach’s crime profile and national trends, possibly influenced by the area’s demographic composition and local policing efforts. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 17.7% of crimes, while criminal damage and arson accounted for another 17.7%. The seasonal context of January, a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days, likely contributes to the lower overall crime rate, though the surge in criminal damage and arson suggests other factors at play. The area’s built-up nature within South Cambridgeshire, coupled with its relatively low population density, may also shape crime patterns, with property crimes and violent incidents concentrated in specific pockets rather than distributed evenly. The absence of major commercial hubs or high-traffic areas may further explain the lower rates of theft from the person or vehicle crime compared to more urban counterparts.

January 2026 saw a marked increase in criminal damage and arson, which surged by 200% compared to the previous month, rising from one to three incidents. This spike contrasts with the 45.5% decline in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 11 to 6 cases—a shift that may reflect seasonal factors or changes in community activity patterns. Meanwhile, vehicle crime and other theft each doubled, with two and one incidents respectively, though these figures remain close to the UK average for their categories. The breakdown of crime types reveals that Waterbeach’s violent crime rate is 56% below the UK average, a stark contrast to the 25% increase in criminal damage and arson relative to the national figure. For residents, the most immediate insight is the significant drop in violent crime, which may indicate the effectiveness of local initiatives or natural fluctuations in criminal activity during the winter months.

Waterbeach's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 3.2 per 1,000 residents, marking a 10.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 3.6 per 1,000. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical of January, a post-holiday period characterised by reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours, which may contribute to lower outdoor crime rates. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while low, underscores the intermittent nature of incidents in this built-up area. When considering the population-scaled perspective, the monthly exposure to crime was such that one crime occurred for roughly every 314 residents. This statistic, while illustrative of the area’s relative safety, should be contextualised within the broader demographic and geographic profile of Waterbeach, a largely residential community with limited commercial density. The comparison to the UK average—where the national rate is 6.8 per 1,000—further highlights Waterbeach’s position as a significantly safer locality, though local factors such as community engagement and policing strategies may play a role in this disparity.