Cambridgeshire has seen an overall rise in recorded offending in the year to March 2026, driven most sharply by increases in Peterborough, according to the latest Home Office figures.
County-wide increase and city hotspot
The data show a 2% increase in recorded crime across Cambridgeshire over the 12 months to March 2026. Within the county, Peterborough emerges as the area with the highest incidence of crime: there were 106 recorded offences per 1,000 residents over the year, amounting to 23,770 non-fraud crimes — a 6% rise compared with the previous 12 months.
Police in the area said the statistics reflect both operational activity and changes in how some incidents are recorded, as well as continuing challenges around violence and drug-related offending.
Policing response and recording changes
Cambridgeshire Police emphasised that tackling violent crime and acquisitive offending remains a force priority. Officers highlighted a range of tactics deployed in Peterborough, including targeted stop-and-search operations in identified hotspots, execution of warrants and arrests by teams concentrating on burglary and other acquisitive offences.
"It is always concerning to see crime rates rise. It is also encouraging that members of the community and victims are reporting these incidents to us," said Detective Chief Inspector Fiona Bail of Cambridgeshire Police.
Force representatives also pointed to national recording changes that have affected the figures. Reports from border forces about intercepted drugs that were previously logged as intelligence are now recorded as crimes, a shift that can increase the number of drug offences appearing in the statistics even where policing activity has remained constant.
- Cambridgeshire overall: 2% increase in recorded crime (year to March 2026).
- Peterborough: 106 crimes per 1,000 people; 23,770 non-fraud crimes; 6% rise year-on-year.
- Operational activity: stop-searches, warrants and arrests carried out in hotspot areas; acquisitive crime teams active on burglaries.
Context and consequences
The figures will be scrutinised by policing and local authorities seeking to balance operational priorities with community engagement. An increase in recorded offending can reflect several factors: genuine rises in offending, improved reporting by victims and the public, proactive police activity that results in more arrests and charges, or changes to the rules and practices used to record incidents.
In Peterborough, the combination of a tangible rise in recorded incidents and intensified enforcement activity — particularly around drugs and acquisitive crime — suggests a mixed picture. On one hand, stronger enforcement and more reports from the public may contribute to higher totals; on the other, the authorities must assess whether underlying levels of harm are increasing and what prevention measures are required.
Local partners, including councils and health services, will need to work alongside policing units to address the drivers of offending, such as organised drug supply and repeat acquisitive offending. The force reiterated its appeal for community intelligence and urged anyone with information about drugs or other criminality to come forward.
| Area | Metric | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire (county) | Change in recorded crime | +2% |
| Peterborough | Crimes per 1,000 people | 106 |
| Peterborough | Non-fraud crimes (12 months) | 23,770 |
| Peterborough | Year-on-year change | +6% |
How these figures translate into policy and policing decisions in the months ahead will be watched closely by residents and local leaders seeking to reduce harm and improve public confidence. For now, police in Cambridgeshire say they will continue targeted operations and encourage reporting to ensure those responsible are pursued through the courts.
