Crime in March: statistics, rates and trends
2,133 crimes were recorded in March in the 12 months to August 2026, 98.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (901), anti-social behaviour (407) and criminal damage and arson (170) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 366th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | March | Fenland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,133 | 9,525 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 98.9 | 90.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 21,574 | 104,896 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in March peaked in the year to August 2025 (2,214 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (1,802). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,133 | 98.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,214 | 102.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,020 | 93.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,183 | 101.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,099 | 97.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,997 | 92.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,125 | 98.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,802 | 83.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,879 | 87.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 220 |
| July 2026 | 173 |
| June 2026 | 178 |
| May 2026 | 181 |
| April 2026 | 152 |
| March 2026 | 173 |
| February 2026 | 155 |
| January 2026 | 186 |
| December 2025 | 155 |
| November 2025 | 186 |
| October 2025 | 184 |
| September 2025 | 190 |
Compared with England and Wales, March recorded notably more other crime (2.0 times the national rate) and bicycle theft (29% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (67% below) and vehicle crime (40% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 49 to 73 and anti-social behaviour rose from 313 to 407, while shoplifting fell from 137 to 61 and possession of weapons fell from 44 to 25.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 901 | 41.8 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 407 | 18.9 | 15.4 | +30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 170 | 7.9 | 6.7 | -16% |
| Other theft | 157 | 7.3 | 6.4 | +24% |
| Other crime | 89 | 4.1 | 2.1 | -36% |
| Public order | 89 | 4.1 | 6.7 | -28% |
| Drugs | 73 | 3.4 | 3.3 | +49% |
| Vehicle crime | 64 | 3.0 | 5.0 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 61 | 2.8 | 8.5 | -55% |
| Burglary | 53 | 2.5 | 3.6 | -9% |
| Possession of weapons | 25 | 1.2 | 1.0 | -43% |
| Bicycle theft | 23 | 1.1 | 0.8 | -18% |
| Theft from the person | 11 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 10 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than March; the highest is Wisbech (132.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Warboys (48.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs March |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doddington and Wimblington | 280 | 55.8 | -44% |
| Chatteris | 838 | 75.1 | -24% |
| Elm and Emneth | 402 | 71.9 | -27% |
| Wisbech | 3,414 | 132.8 | +34% |
| Whittlesey | 1,040 | 67.8 | -31% |
| Ramsey | 548 | 99.6 | +1% |
| Littleport | 680 | 78.0 | -21% |
| Warboys | 255 | 48.0 | -51% |
Of the 4 areas within March, March West & Benwick had the highest crime rate (108.0 per 1,000) and March North the lowest (75.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March West & Benwick | Neighbourhood | 5,900 | 637 | 108.0 |
| March South | Neighbourhood | 4,009 | 417 | 104.0 |
| March East | Neighbourhood | 6,941 | 617 | 88.9 |
| March North | Neighbourhood | 8,211 | 619 | 75.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 30% of the crime recorded in March over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (119).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 119 |
| On or near Prison | 97 |
| On or near Broad Street | 85 |
| On or near Hundred Road | 68 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 52 |
| On or near Acre Road | 46 |
| On or near Southwell Close | 45 |
| On or near The Green | 41 |
| On or near Lake Close | 40 |
| On or near Rookswood Road | 37 |
Of the 1,726 crimes in March with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 407 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 753 | 43.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 448 | 26.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 187 | 10.8% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 81 | 4.7% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 76 | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 56 | 3.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 49 | 2.8% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 44 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 30 | 1.7% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
March has an estimated population of 21,574 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.1%, against 7.9%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (19%, against 34%) and more residents with no qualifications (25%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up March average decile 4.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | March | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 18.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 8.1% | 10.1% (England) |
Is March a safe place to live?
March recorded 98.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 366th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and bicycle theft.
What is the most common crime in March?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 901 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (407).
Is crime in March going up or down?
Recorded crime in March was down 4% on the year before: 2,133 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,214 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of March?
About 21,574 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers March?
March 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.