Crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire: statistics, rates and trends
455 crimes were recorded in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 62.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 32% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire at a glance
- Crime trends in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
- Types of crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
- Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
- Population and deprivation in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
- Questions about crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
- About this data
455 crimes were recorded in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 62.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 32% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 135 reports (30% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire has the 2,513th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire | South Cambridgeshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 455 | 10,068 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 62.1 | 58.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +32% | +10% | -1% |
| Population | 7,321 | 172,544 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire was highest in the year to July 2026 (455 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (341). Over the whole period it rose 32%, 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 | 455 | 62.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 346 | 47.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 342 | 46.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 341 | 46.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 383 | 52.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 418 | 57.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 421 | 57.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 413 | 56.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 344 | 47.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 60 |
| June 2026 | 50 |
| May 2026 | 36 |
| April 2026 | 33 |
| March 2026 | 45 |
| February 2026 | 39 |
| January 2026 | 26 |
| December 2025 | 24 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 43 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
| August 2025 | 40 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire 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. The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+56%) and anti-social behaviour (+32%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 135 | 18.4 | 0.54 | +14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 107 | 14.6 | 0.95 | +32% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 61 | 8.3 | 1.23 | +56% |
| Burglary | 29 | 4.0 | 1.12 | +32% |
| Vehicle crime | 23 | 3.1 | 0.64 | +44% |
| Public order | 22 | 3.0 | 0.45 | +47% |
| Other crime | 18 | 2.5 | 1.16 | +20% |
| Other theft | 18 | 2.5 | 0.38 | +38% |
| Drugs | 14 | 1.9 | 0.58 | +180% |
| Shoplifting | 13 | 1.8 | 0.21 | -32% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.8 | 1.00 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.5 | 0.40 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 0.24 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.3 | 0.28 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 29.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 107 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 23.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 61 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 13.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 180% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Histon & Impington | 955 | 81.0 | +30% |
| Milton & Waterbeach | 1,010 | 88.0 | +42% |
| Longstanton | 678 | 74.7 | +20% |
| Over & Willingham | 370 | 48.4 | -22% |
| Girton | 180 | 37.5 | -40% |
| Bar Hill | 373 | 73.4 | +18% |
| Hardwick | 149 | 48.5 | -22% |
| Fen Ditton & Fulbourn | 1,037 | 91.0 | +46% |
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 Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Rampton Road | 49 |
| On or near Lamb'S Lane | 24 |
| On or near B1049 | 17 |
| On or near Bramley Close | 17 |
| On or near Clarke Close | 14 |
| On or near Foundry Close | 13 |
| On or near Pine Lane | 13 |
| On or near Twenty Pence Road | 12 |
| On or near Church Close | 11 |
| On or near Tower Close | 11 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 151 | 33.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 114 | 25.1% |
| Not recorded | 107 | 23.5% |
| Under investigation | 36 | 7.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 2.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 2.6% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire has an estimated population of 7,321. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire sits in decile 7.3, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.5% |
| Private rented homes | 12.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.3 |
Is Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire a safe place to live?
Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire recorded 62.1 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 Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (107).
Is crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire was up 32% on the year before: 455 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 346 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire?
Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire is policed by Cambridgeshire. 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 Cottenham, South Cambridgeshire. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.