Cookham Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

February 2026 marked an unexpected shift in Cookham's crime profile, with criminal damage and arson surging by 200% to become the second most common crime type. This anomaly contrasts with the area's usual pattern of low overall crime, which stood at 2.8 per 1,000 residents—56.2% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 33.3% of all reported crimes, fell sharply by 37.5% compared to the previous month, though they remained 61% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour (20.0% of total crimes) and criminal damage and arson (20.0%) shared the second and third positions in frequency, reflecting a notable shift in the crime mix. The seasonal context of February, a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull, may have influenced these trends. Cookham's built-up nature within the Windsor and Maidenhead area, characterised by a mix of residential and commercial spaces, likely contributes to the relatively low incidence of violent crimes compared to more densely populated urban centres. The absence of major retail or nightlife hubs may also explain the lower rates of shoplifting and alcohol-related public order offences, which are typically higher in areas with concentrated commercial activity. However, the unexpected rise in criminal damage and arson suggests that local factors—such as changes in property management, seasonal neglect, or targeted acts—could be at play. These findings highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and the need for further analysis to understand the drivers of this unusual spike in property-related crimes.

The most significant shift in February 2026 was the 200% surge in criminal damage and arson, with incidents rising from 1 to 3. This jump, though small in absolute terms, marks a departure from the area's usual pattern of minimal property-related crimes. Concurrently, public order offences and drug-related crimes both doubled, while violence and sexual offences fell by 37.5% from 8 to 5. This shift in crime mix—from predominantly violent incidents to property and public order issues—contrasts with the national trend, where violence and sexual offences typically dominate. Cookham's rate of criminal damage and arson (0.6 per 1,000) is 30% above the UK average (0.5 per 1,000), highlighting a local anomaly. For residents, the daily crime count of 1 per day offers a tangible measure of the area's current risk level, though it remains far below national averages. The increase in criminal damage and arson may be linked to seasonal factors, such as the pre-spring lull in outdoor activity, which could lead to more indoor or targeted acts of vandalism. However, the absence of specific data on local events or environmental factors means this remains speculative.

Cookham's crime rate in February 2026 stood at 2.8 per 1,000 residents, a 16.7% decrease from the previous month's 3.3 per 1,000. This reduction, while modest, reinforces the area's consistent position as one of the safest places in the UK. On a daily basis, 15 reported crimes over 28 days equate to an average of one incident per day, a figure that remains strikingly low compared to the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. When scaled to Cookham's population of 5,451 residents, this translates to one reported crime occurring for every 363 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is a critical metric for residents, illustrating that the likelihood of any individual being directly affected by crime remains exceptionally low. The population size further contextualises the rarity of crime, with the density of residents per square kilometre in Cookham likely contributing to the low incidence of violent crimes and property offences. The built-up nature of the area, characterised by a mix of residential and commercial zones, may also play a role in the distribution of crime types, though the overall rate remains significantly below national benchmarks.