Crime in Cambridge: statistics, rates and trends
890 crimes were recorded in Cambridge in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Cambridge at a glance
- Crime trends in Cambridge
- Types of crime in Cambridge
- Cambridge compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Cambridge
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cambridge
- Population and deprivation in Cambridge
- Questions about crime in Cambridge
- About this data
890 crimes were recorded in Cambridge in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 429 reports (48% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Cambridge has the 2,212th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Cambridge | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 890 | 24,388 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.4 | 85.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 12,644 | 286,281 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Cambridge was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,248 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (890). Over the whole period it fell 9%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 890 | 70.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 927 | 73.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 954 | 75.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,137 | 89.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,248 | 98.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,170 | 92.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,116 | 88.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 990 | 78.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 983 | 77.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 87 |
| June 2026 | 76 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 85 |
| March 2026 | 62 |
| February 2026 | 72 |
| January 2026 | 66 |
| December 2025 | 71 |
| November 2025 | 72 |
| October 2025 | 74 |
| September 2025 | 75 |
| August 2025 | 73 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Cambridge over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for drugs.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+19%) and other theft (+11%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-38%) and public order (-25%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 429 | 33.9 | 0.99 | -2% |
| Drugs | 80 | 6.3 | 1.94 | +3% |
| Public order | 80 | 6.3 | 0.95 | -25% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 76 | 6.0 | 0.39 | +19% |
| Other theft | 49 | 3.9 | 0.61 | +11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 48 | 3.8 | 0.56 | -38% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 3.6 | 0.44 | +0% |
| Burglary | 19 | 1.5 | 0.42 | -5% |
| Other crime | 18 | 1.4 | 0.67 | +38% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 1.4 | 0.29 | -5% |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.9 | 0.70 | +200% |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.6 | 0.57 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.6 | 0.33 | +133% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.10 | -89% |
Violence and sexual offences in Cambridge
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cambridge recorded 429 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 48.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Cambridge
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cambridge recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Cambridge
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cambridge recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Cambridge
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cambridge recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Cambridge
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cambridge recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Cambridge
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cambridge recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Cambridge
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cambridge recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Cambridge
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cambridge recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Cambridge
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cambridge recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Cambridge
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cambridge recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Cambridge
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cambridge recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Cambridge
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cambridge recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Cambridge
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cambridge recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 133% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Cambridge
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cambridge recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 89% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Cambridge, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cambridge.
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Cambridge over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 67 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 51 |
| On or near Park Road | 48 |
| On or near Parking Area | 46 |
| On or near Lathom Road | 44 |
| On or near Police Station | 39 |
| On or near Marshside Road | 35 |
| On or near Park Road West | 34 |
| On or near Preesall Close | 32 |
| On or near Kingfisher Court | 27 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cambridge over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 376 | 42.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 196 | 22.0% |
| Under investigation | 85 | 9.6% |
| Not recorded | 76 | 8.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 47 | 5.3% |
| Local resolution | 36 | 4.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 25 | 2.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 23 | 2.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 18 | 2.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.2% |
Cambridge has an estimated population of 12,644. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cambridge sits in decile 4.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Cambridge |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 10.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 51.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 38.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.8% |
| Social rented homes | 11.3% |
| Private rented homes | 27.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 12.9% |
Is Cambridge a safe place to live?
Cambridge recorded 70.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Cambridge?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 429 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by drugs (80).
Is crime in Cambridge going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cambridge was down 4% on the year before: 890 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 927 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Cambridge?
Cambridge is policed by Merseyside. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Cambridge. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.