Crime in Cottenham: statistics, rates and trends
455 crimes were recorded in Cottenham 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 at a glance
- Crime trends in Cottenham
- Types of crime in Cottenham
- Cottenham compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Cottenham
- Streets with the most crime in Cottenham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cottenham
- Population and deprivation in Cottenham
- Questions about crime in Cottenham
- About this data
455 crimes were recorded in Cottenham 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 1,408 towns covered by this site, Cottenham has the 921st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Cottenham | 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 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 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
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cottenham 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
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cottenham 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
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cottenham 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
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cottenham 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
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cottenham 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
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cottenham 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
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cottenham 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
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cottenham 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
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cottenham 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
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cottenham 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
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cottenham 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
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cottenham 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
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cottenham 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
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cottenham 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 towns closest to Cottenham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cottenham.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cottenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Histon and Impington | 639 | 80.3 | +29% |
| Longstanton and Northstowe | 609 | 80.4 | +29% |
| Waterbeach | 301 | 52.5 | -16% |
| Bar Hill | 373 | 73.4 | +18% |
| Cambridge (Cambridge) | 16,738 | 109.3 | +76% |
| Burwell | 313 | 48.2 | -22% |
| St Ives (Huntingdonshire) | 1,129 | 65.1 | +5% |
| Cambourne | 622 | 56.9 | -8% |
1 areas within Cottenham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Cottenham had the highest rate (62.1 per 1,000) and Cottenham the lowest (62.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottenham | Neighbourhood | 7,321 | 455 | 62.1 |
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 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 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% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 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 has an estimated population of 7,321. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cottenham 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 a safe place to live?
Cottenham 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?
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 going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cottenham 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?
Cottenham 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. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.