Crime in Waterbeach: statistics, rates and trends
301 crimes were recorded in Waterbeach in the 12 months to July 2026, 52.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Waterbeach at a glance
- Crime trends in Waterbeach
- Types of crime in Waterbeach
- Waterbeach compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Waterbeach
- Streets with the most crime in Waterbeach
- What happened after crimes were reported in Waterbeach
- Population and deprivation in Waterbeach
- Questions about crime in Waterbeach
- About this data
301 crimes were recorded in Waterbeach in the 12 months to July 2026, 52.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 130 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Waterbeach has the 1,116th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Waterbeach | South Cambridgeshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 301 | 10,068 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 52.5 | 58.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +10% | -1% |
| Population | 5,734 | 172,544 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Waterbeach was highest in the year to July 2026 (301 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (198). Over the whole period it rose 36%, 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 | 301 | 52.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 286 | 49.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 198 | 34.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 235 | 41.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 296 | 51.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 236 | 41.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 258 | 45.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 243 | 42.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 221 | 38.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 36 |
| June 2026 | 35 |
| May 2026 | 28 |
| April 2026 | 27 |
| March 2026 | 14 |
| February 2026 | 28 |
| January 2026 | 17 |
| December 2025 | 19 |
| November 2025 | 18 |
| October 2025 | 23 |
| September 2025 | 31 |
| August 2025 | 25 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Waterbeach 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 violence and sexual offences (+25%).
The largest falls were in other theft (-29%) and anti-social behaviour (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 130 | 22.7 | 0.66 | +25% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 45 | 7.8 | 0.51 | -17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34 | 5.9 | 0.87 | +6% |
| Vehicle crime | 26 | 4.5 | 0.92 | +73% |
| Other theft | 15 | 2.6 | 0.41 | -29% |
| Public order | 14 | 2.4 | 0.37 | -7% |
| Burglary | 10 | 1.7 | 0.49 | +25% |
| Drugs | 8 | 1.4 | 0.43 | +0% |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 1.0 | 0.13 | -45% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.7 | 0.85 | +100% |
| Other crime | 4 | 0.7 | 0.33 | -60% |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.7 | 0.72 | +33% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.13 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Waterbeach
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Waterbeach recorded 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 43.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Waterbeach
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Waterbeach recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 15.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Waterbeach
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Waterbeach recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Waterbeach
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Waterbeach recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 73% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Waterbeach
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Waterbeach recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Waterbeach
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Waterbeach recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Waterbeach
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Waterbeach recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Waterbeach
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Waterbeach recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Waterbeach
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Waterbeach recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Waterbeach
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Waterbeach recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Waterbeach
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Waterbeach recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Waterbeach
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Waterbeach recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Waterbeach
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Waterbeach recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Waterbeach, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Waterbeach.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Waterbeach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cottenham | 455 | 62.1 | +18% |
| Histon and Impington | 639 | 80.3 | +53% |
| Cambridge (Cambridge) | 16,738 | 109.3 | +108% |
| Burwell | 313 | 48.2 | -8% |
| Longstanton and Northstowe | 609 | 80.4 | +53% |
| Bar Hill | 373 | 73.4 | +40% |
| Soham | 709 | 58.5 | +11% |
| Great Shelford and Stapleford | 238 | 35.5 | -32% |
1 areas within Waterbeach, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Milton & Waterbeach had the highest rate (88.0 per 1,000) and Milton & Waterbeach the lowest (88.0). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milton & Waterbeach | Neighbourhood | 11,478 | 1,010 | 88.0 |
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 Waterbeach over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Waddelow Road | 27 |
| On or near Abbey Place | 15 |
| On or near Jubilee Close | 15 |
| On or near Cooke'S Field | 14 |
| On or near Harvey Way | 11 |
| On or near Pieces Terrace | 11 |
| On or near Fletcher Avenue | 10 |
| On or near Kirby Terrace | 9 |
| On or near Park Crescent | 9 |
| On or near Rookery Close | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Waterbeach 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 | 118 | 39.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 69 | 22.9% |
| Not recorded | 45 | 15.0% |
| Under investigation | 38 | 12.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 2.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 2.7% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 1.3% |
Waterbeach has an estimated population of 5,734. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Waterbeach sits in decile 7.6, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Waterbeach |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.3% |
| Social rented homes | 15.4% |
| Private rented homes | 17.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.6 |
Is Waterbeach a safe place to live?
Waterbeach recorded 52.5 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 Waterbeach?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (45).
Is crime in Waterbeach going up or down?
Recorded crime in Waterbeach was up 5% on the year before: 301 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 286 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Waterbeach?
Waterbeach 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 Waterbeach. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.