The annual policing report for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough highlights a mixed picture: notable reductions in some types of theft alongside substantial increases in drug offences and weapons possession.
Key statistics from the year to April
Darryl Preston, the county's Conservative police and crime commissioner, set out progress made on neighbourhood visibility, response times and crime prevention in his external report on local policing.
| Offence | Change (year to April) |
|---|---|
| Theft from a person | -27% |
| Cycle theft | -16%+ |
| Drug offences | +56% |
| Possession of weapons | +20% |
What the report says about policing activity
The report records targeted measures intended to improve local policing. It says the force added 30 officers to neighbourhood teams after receiving £749,456 in government funding. Named officers were allocated to specific areas and tasked with dealing with concerns within 72 hours, the report states.
- Additional patrols: between October 2025 and January an extra 12,500 hours of patrols were logged, supported by the Hotspot Action Fund.
- Response times: the report notes 999 call handling improved, with average pick-up falling from four to three seconds in 12 months and urgent incidents being attended within 15 minutes.
- Vehicle-related theft: interference with a vehicle fell by 23% and theft from motor vehicles dropped by 14%.
"I am more determined than ever to build on the very firm foundations laid to continue delivering the best possible service to the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough,"
Mr Preston also highlighted Home Office funding of about £600,000 aimed at tackling knife crime.
Local implications and questions
The contrasting trends underline the complexity of policing priorities in the county. Reductions in personal thefts and bicycle crime will be welcomed by residents, but the substantial rises in drug offences and weapons possession will raise concerns about public safety and demand for targeted enforcement and diversionary work.
Investment in neighbourhood policing and faster call handling are concrete developments, but the report does not in itself explain the drivers behind the increases in drug- and weapons-related crime. Community groups, councillors and crime prevention partners are likely to press for detail on how additional resources will be allocated to address those upward trends.
Residents who witness or are affected by these issues should continue to report incidents to Cambridgeshire Constabulary so that local patterns and hotspots can be monitored and responded to.
