Crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire: statistics, rates and trends
568 crimes were recorded in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire in the 12 months to August 2026, 54.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire at a glance
- Crime trends in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire
- Types of crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire
- Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire
- What happened after crimes were reported in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire
- Demographics of Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire
- Questions about crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (223), anti-social behaviour (107) and criminal damage and arson (65) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,844th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire | South Cambridgeshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 568 | 10,190 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 54.6 | 59.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +15% | +11% | -1% |
| Population | 10,396 | 172,544 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire peaked in the year to August 2021 (664 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (475). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 20%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 568 | 54.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 492 | 47.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 560 | 53.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 596 | 57.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 618 | 59.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 664 | 63.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 583 | 56.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 610 | 58.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 475 | 45.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57 |
| July 2026 | 51 |
| June 2026 | 53 |
| May 2026 | 54 |
| April 2026 | 35 |
| March 2026 | 51 |
| February 2026 | 39 |
| January 2026 | 54 |
| December 2025 | 41 |
| November 2025 | 42 |
| October 2025 | 38 |
| September 2025 | 53 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and other theft (60% below) and violence and sexual offences (37% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 35 to 65 and vehicle crime rose from 25 to 33, while burglary fell from 41 to 24 and other theft fell from 33 to 27.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 223 | 21.5 | 34.2 | +8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 107 | 10.3 | 15.4 | +18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 65 | 6.3 | 6.7 | +86% |
| Public order | 48 | 4.6 | 6.7 | +20% |
| Vehicle crime | 33 | 3.2 | 5.0 | +32% |
| Other theft | 27 | 2.6 | 6.4 | -18% |
| Burglary | 24 | 2.3 | 3.6 | -41% |
| Other crime | 15 | 1.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 14 | 1.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 0.6 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire; the highest is Bassingbourn, South Cambridgeshire (74.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Shelford (34.2).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bassingbourn | 270 | 74.2 | +36% |
| Barrington | 180 | 43.9 | -20% |
| The Mordens | 243 | 57.0 | +4% |
| Harston & Comberton | 517 | 46.6 | -15% |
| Duxford | 232 | 49.7 | -9% |
| Shelford | 269 | 34.2 | -37% |
| Sawston | 312 | 41.6 | -24% |
| Caldecote | 128 | 37.7 | -31% |
The 10 locations below account for 39% of the crime recorded in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Tudor Court” (74).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Tudor Court | 74 |
| On or near Parking Area | 25 |
| On or near Hyacinth Drive | 19 |
| On or near Gables Close | 18 |
| On or near Burtons | 17 |
| On or near High Street | 17 |
| On or near The Moor | 17 |
| On or near Cardiff Place | 13 |
| On or near Carlton Rise | 11 |
| On or near Cambridge Road | 10 |
Of the 461 crimes in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 107 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 159 | 34.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 147 | 31.9% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 59 | 12.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 30 | 6.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 27 | 5.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 3.0% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 2.4% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 2.2% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire has an estimated population of 10,396 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (9.7%, against 23.3%), less private renting (12%, against 20%) and fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire average decile 7.3 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 42.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire a safe place to live?
Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire recorded 54.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,844th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 223 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (107).
Is crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire was up 15% on the year before: 568 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 492 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire?
About 10,396 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire?
Melbourn, South Cambridgeshire is policed by Cambridgeshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.