Number of thefts falls across county, says report

Instances of some types of theft across a county have fallen, according to a report by its police and crime commissioner.

Darryl Preston, the Conservative police and crime commissioner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, said theft from a person fell by 27% and cycle theft by more than 16% in the year to April.

Yet figures by the Office for National Statistics showed drug offences in the county increased by 56% and possession of weapons by 20% in 2025.

Preston's annual report on local policing concluded there had been progress in increasing policing visibility, improving response times and preventing crime.

"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," said Preston.

In his report it highlighted the introduction of 30 extra officers assigned to neighbourhood policing teams after the county's force received £749,456 in government funding.

Named officers dedicated to local areas were implemented to respond to issues of local concern within 72 hours.

Preston said between October 2025 and January there were an extra 12,500 hours of additional patrols across the county supported by the Hotspot Action Fund.

The report said response and communication times with 999 calls had decreased from four to three seconds in 12 months, with officers attending urgent incidents within 15 minutes.

It found there was also a 23% reduction in interference with a vehicle and a 14% decrease in theft from motor vehicles.

The county received about £600,000 from the Home Office to tackle knife crime, the report said.

"I promised to be a commissioner that always listens and learns from our communities, and this will not change," Preston said.

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