Crime and Safety in Orton Waterville
Last updated: 07 Jun 2026
Orton Waterville is the third safest small town in Cambridgeshire, and is the 108th most dangerous overall out of Cambridgeshire's 262 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Orton Waterville in 2026 is 46 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to Cambridgeshire's overall crime rate, coming in 27% lower than the Cambridgeshire rate of 63 per 1,000 daytime population. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Orton Waterville is the 254th safest small town, and the 3,794th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In April 2026, Orton Waterville was the worst small town in Cambridgeshire for robbery, with 3 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.14 per 1,000 daytime population. February 2025 was also a bad month for Orton Waterville residents, when it was Cambridgeshire's most dangerous small town for shoplifting, recording 25 crimes at a rate of 1.2 per 1,000 daytime population.
The most common crimes in Orton Waterville are violence and sexual offences, with 391 offences during 2026, giving a crime rate of 19. This is 8% lower than 2025's figure of 427 offences and a difference of 1.82 from 2025's crime rate of 21. Orton Waterville's least common crime is theft from the person, with 5 offences recorded in 2026, the same as 2025's figure of 5 crimes.
Orton Waterville 2026 Crime Scorecard
Third Safest
Small Towns, Cambridgeshire
25% lower, regional crime rate
East of England
36% lower, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
Local Crime in Context
As of April 2026, the crime rate in Orton Waterville is 25% lower than the East of England and 36% lower than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
Orton Waterville Crime Rate Over Time
| Orton Waterville | |
| East of England | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Orton Waterville Crime Map
Incidents mapped in Orton Waterville represent the time frame between January 2016 and April 2026. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Use Crime Map
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualise the data you need.
See How Orton Waterville Compares
You can compare Orton Waterville's crime statistics against any other town, village, or city from across the country. Search for a location's name below to see how they stack up.
Introduction to Orton Waterville's crime statistics
This crime profile provides a detailed view of crime and safety around Orton Waterville up to April 2026, the most recent data release available. The crime figures and statistics have been calculated across each of Orton Waterville's 203 postcodes using three area sizes for comparison:
- Within a Five-Minute Walk
- Within a Ten-Minute Walk
- Within a Fifteen-Minute Walk
Individual crime risk scores and index figures are for the 12-month period ending April 2026 unless otherwise stated.
CrimeRate Insights
Looking into a specific address in Orton Waterville? CrimeRate Insights reports convert raw numbers into practical insight for any location, from single addresses and postcodes, up to major towns and cities.
Crime rates don’t happen by themselves; they follow people and patterns. Where crowds gather - near pubs and late-night venues, around the station, by supermarkets and forecourts - incidents naturally concentrate.
That doesn’t mean an area is "bad"; it usually means footfall is higher.
Your report explores these factors in a calm, non-judgemental way, putting the numbers in context and helping you spot what’s typical for places like this.
Crime Risk Scores
Orton Waterville • 12 Months Ending April 2026
The typical five-minute walk within Orton Waterville has a crime risk score of 268. This is based on analysis of 203 nearby areas within Orton Waterville, with "most" referring to roughly two thirds of the nearby locations.
Crime risk scores are on a scale of 1 to 1,000 and consider the severity of the crimes involved, as determined by sentencing guidelines. A score of 1 represents the lowest risk, and 1,000 the highest risk. This approach ensures that - unlike overall crime rate figures - bicycle theft is not given the same importance in Orton Waterville's risk scores as, for example, robbery, or violence & sexual offences.
Within a five-minute walk of the typical location in Orton Waterville, crime risk scores are typically around 268, while in Cambridgeshire they are average 429.
Areas within a ten-minute walk typically see crime risk scores of 358 (418 for Cambridgeshire), and scores within a fifteen-minute walk are most often around 423 (Cambridgeshire 424).
Trends in Crime Risk
Orton Waterville
Calculated via Seasonal and Trend decomposition using Loess, the Seasonality Adjusted line represents the original data with seasonality subtracted, and the Trend line has been plotted unadjusted. Overall trend direction has been identified using the Mann-Kendall trend test, and rate calculated from the slope of the best-fit line identified from linear regression.
The 10-year trend indicates a decrease of 42% in Orton Waterville's crime risk score. This is potentially a strong signal of how the crime risk is evolving. Cross-referencing with major cultural events and Covid's impact during this time is advised.
Looking at the previous five years, the trend in Orton Waterville's crime risk score is down by 15%. While potentially a good indicator of the overall risk trend, analysis may offer further insight when combined with the checks mentioned above.
Over the last year, Orton Waterville's crime risk score has shown a downward trend of approximately 14%, indicating that the risk profile is going down. This is an extremely short time period for crime trend analysis, and caution should be exercised when interpreting this figure.
Crime Rates and Indexes
Orton Waterville
The CrimeRate Index shows how crime rates compare against the national average.
1.0 equals the average
2.0 is double
3.0 triple
0.5 is half and
0.25 a quarter.
Highest Crime Rates
Orton Waterville • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Excluding other crime and other theft because their geographic location is often not relevant, anti-social behaviour as its definition is too wide, and bicycle theft for its specificity.
Robbery offences have a crime rate of 0.68 reports per 1,000 people in Orton Waterville, which is 0.97 times the national average. This figure is calculated from 14 crime reports logged by Cambridgeshire Police during the 12-month period ending April 2026.
For the same period, Cambridgeshire Police recorded 13 reports of Possession of Weapons in Orton Waterville, resulting in a crime rate of 0.65 reports per 1,000, and a CrimeRate Index of 0.92.
The crime rate for Burglary is 0.89 times the national average at 2.31 reports per 1,000. This is from 48 crime reports reported to Cambridgeshire Police.
Most Significant 3-Year Increases in Crime Types
Orton Waterville
Excluding other crime and other theft, anti-social behaviour, and bicycle theft, and calculated with the same STL method described in Trends in Crime Risk, using CrimeRate Index figures to identify crime types that are trending above or below the national average, and the analysis timeframe limited to the last three years.
Possession of Weapons offences are trending upwards, though the CrimeRate Index three years ago is too low to measure, and the trend should be reviewed with caution.
Drugs offences are trending upwards, though the CrimeRate Index three years ago is too low to measure, and the trend should be reviewed with caution.
Violence and Sexual Offences are trending upwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.51 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Violence and Sexual Offences CrimeRate Index was 0.56 times the national average, and the current trend indicates an increase of 9% over this timeframe.
Most Significant 3-Year Decreases in Crime Types
Orton Waterville
Calculated with the same methodology as the largest increases section above.
Vehicle Crime offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.40 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Vehicle Crime CrimeRate Index was 0.77 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 48% over this timeframe.
Shoplifting offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 1.08 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Shoplifting CrimeRate Index was 0.96 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 12% over this timeframe.
Public Order offences are trending downwards, and have a CrimeRate Index of 0.29 for the month of April 2026.
Three years ago, the monthly Public Order CrimeRate Index was 0.53 times the national average, and the current trend indicates a decrease of 45% over this timeframe.
Crime Type Breakdown & Heat Map
Orton Waterville • 12 Months Ending April 2026
Size and colour reflect the CrimeRate Index figures for each type of crime.
Orton Waterville | Cambridgeshire | East of England | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime Type | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 196 | 9.44 | 0.67 | 14,438 | 13.36 | 0.95 | 74,182 | 10.23 | 0.72 |
| Bicycle Theft | 9 | 0.44 | 1.07 | 1,531 | 1.42 | 1.95 | 5,325 | 0.72 | 0.99 |
| Burglary | 48 | 2.31 | 0.89 | 3,146 | 2.90 | 0.93 | 17,593 | 2.42 | 0.77 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 94 | 4.53 | 0.72 | 6,344 | 5.88 | 0.94 | 40,107 | 5.51 | 0.88 |
| Drugs | 42 | 2.03 | 0.79 | 3,061 | 2.83 | 0.92 | 18,935 | 2.59 | 0.84 |
| Other Crime | 44 | 2.11 | 1.14 | 2,223 | 2.06 | 1.11 | 12,241 | 1.70 | 0.92 |
| Other Theft | 74 | 3.55 | 0.62 | 4,998 | 4.63 | 0.81 | 34,703 | 4.78 | 0.84 |
| Possession of Weapons | 13 | 0.65 | 0.92 | 1,146 | 1.06 | 1.25 | 5,931 | 0.83 | 0.98 |
| Public Order | 49 | 2.35 | 0.41 | 4,510 | 4.17 | 0.72 | 32,088 | 4.42 | 0.76 |
| Robbery | 14 | 0.68 | 0.97 | 559 | 0.51 | 0.43 | 4,492 | 0.61 | 0.52 |
| Shoplifting | 124 | 5.97 | 0.84 | 6,993 | 6.49 | 0.91 | 43,068 | 5.94 | 0.83 |
| Theft From the Person | 5 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 698 | 0.65 | 0.42 | 3,654 | 0.52 | 0.34 |
| Vehicle Crime | 47 | 2.26 | 0.53 | 3,742 | 3.45 | 0.80 | 27,821 | 3.84 | 0.89 |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 391 | 18.80 | 0.62 | 29,175 | 27.01 | 0.89 | 200,684 | 27.65 | 0.91 |
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Total Crime by Year
Orton Waterville | Cambridgeshire | East of England | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index | Count | Rate | Index |
| 2026 | 954 | 45.93 | 0.67 | 68,126 | 63.06 | 0.88 | 446,642 | 61.53 | 0.85 |
| 2025 | 1,033 | 49.85 | 0.71 | 66,617 | 61.99 | 0.84 | 441,082 | 61.31 | 0.83 |
| 2024 | 1,102 | 53.38 | 0.75 | 67,906 | 63.71 | 0.84 | 443,460 | 62.34 | 0.83 |
| 2023 | 990 | 48.63 | 0.64 | 70,997 | 67.53 | 0.85 | 474,715 | 67.51 | 0.85 |
| 2022 | 877 | 43.58 | 0.60 | 66,531 | 64.15 | 0.84 | 471,617 | 67.78 | 0.88 |
| 2021 | 877 | 42.29 | 0.65 | 59,363 | 57.95 | 0.85 | 437,869 | 63.51 | 0.93 |
| 2020 | 949 | 45.34 | 0.64 | 64,534 | 63.52 | 0.86 | 465,376 | 67.88 | 0.92 |
| 2019 | 715 | 34.64 | 0.49 | 63,505 | 62.98 | 0.83 | 482,539 | 70.87 | 0.93 |
| 2018 | 928 | 45.24 | 0.67 | 65,185 | 65.00 | 0.91 | 439,882 | 64.91 | 0.91 |
| 2017 | 770 | 37.87 | 0.63 | 58,616 | 58.91 | 0.92 | 396,747 | 58.76 | 0.92 |
| 2016 | 205 | 10.10 | 0.58 | 15,799 | 15.92 | 0.83 | 116,493 | 17.30 | 0.91 |
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Orton Waterville Compared to Nearby Small Towns
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| Small Town | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton Hargate and Vale | 1,127 | 81.86 | 78% more dangerous |
| March | 1,844 | 75.33 | 64% more dangerous |
| Orton Longueville | 862 | 72.94 | 59% more dangerous |
| Littleport | 698 | 62.15 | 35% more dangerous |
| Ramsey | 607 | 62.71 | 37% more dangerous |
| Yaxley | 551 | 57.26 | 25% more dangerous |
| Chatteris | 610 | 50.25 | 9% more dangerous |
| Ely | 1,266 | 52.08 | 13% more dangerous |
| Whittlesey | 997 | 50.34 | 10% more dangerous |
| Soham | 584 | 42.45 | 8% safer |
| St. Ives | 898 | 46.60 | 1.5% more dangerous |
| Orton Waterville | 954 | 45.93 | - |
| Cambourne | 545 | 35.90 | 22% safer |
Comparing Orton Waterville to the UK's Major Cities
12 Months Ending Apr 2026
| City Name | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Orton Waterville | 45.93 | - |
| Cardiff | 79.55 | 73% more dangerous |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 82.69 | 80% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 84.09 | 83% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.87 | 113% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 104.64 | 128% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 105.05 | 129% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 106.48 | 132% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 107.10 | 133% more dangerous |
| Nottingham | 107.74 | 135% more dangerous |
| Westminster | 125.00 | 172% more dangerous |
CrimeRate Pro
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Offences In and Around Orton Waterville's Parks & Leisure Spaces
Limited to spaces in Orton Waterville that are named and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries in the 12 months to Apr 2026.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nene Park | 44 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 68 | 35 |
| Bushfield Leisure Centre | 11 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 29 | 35 |
| Plegan Place | - | - | 1 | - | - | 2 |
| Ferry Meadows Country Park | 14 | - | 2 | - | 6 | 6 |
Recent Crimes in Orton Waterville
The 20 most recent crime reports in Orton Waterville.
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Riseholme | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Nairn Drive | |
| April 2026 | Anti-social behaviour | On or near Paulsgrove | |
| April 2026 | Burglary | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near The Rookery | |
| April 2026 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Milnyard Square | |
| April 2026 | Other crime | On or near Riseholme | |
| April 2026 | Other theft | On or near Stagsden | |
| April 2026 | Possession of weapons | On or near Riseholme | |
| April 2026 | Robbery | On or near Riseholme | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Milnyard Square | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Shoplifting | On or near Supermarket | |
| April 2026 | Vehicle crime | On or near Reepham | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Meriton | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near The Gannocks | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sevenacres | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Fallodan Road | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Jasmine Court | |
| April 2026 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Jasmine Court |
Methodology & Data Sources
Orton Waterville Crime Report
Data Sources & Processing
Every month, CrimeRate processes crime reports from data.police.uk, the UK's official provider of open crime report data. Each crime report includes anonymised coordinates, most often "snapped" to the middle of the nearest street, or to the nearest major landmark. The reports also include the month and year the crime was reported, as well as the type of crime.
Data releases on data.police.uk happen once a month, with a two-month delay. This means that, for example, crimes reported in Orton Waterville during June 2026 will typically become available in August 2026. The latest release is for Apr 2026 and was released in Jun 2026. To provide current and historical crime statistics, CrimeRate processed 61,669,232 crime reports for the latest release.
Orton Waterville Data Points
For Orton Waterville, CrimeRate uses the geographic boundaries provided by The Office for National Statistics in the December 2023 release of their Parishes and Non Civil Parished Areas dataset, using the PARNCP23CD column value E04001116.
Due to the 2021 Census being conducted during a UK-wide Coronavirus lockdown, the daytime population figures released so far cannot be relied on for purposes such as comparing crime rates. Instead, CrimeRate uses Orton Waterville's daytime - or "workday" - population of 16,389 from the ONS 2011 Census for calculations throughout the site.
All geographic boundaries use the full resolution - extent of the realm versions where provided to avoid missing crime reports near coastlines and rivers - the banks of the Thames in particular - that would otherwise not be included when using the clipped to the coastline datasets.
Calculating Crime Rates
CrimeRate locates the UK region, county, and town/city/village locality for each crime report, and calculates the crime rate by taking the sum of all crime reports, dividing it by the locality's daytime / "workday" population, and multiplying the result by 1,000 to get the crime rate per 1,000.
Crime Risk Score Calculations
CrimeRate calculates crime counts for local, nearby, and wider areas for every postcode in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The postcodes locations are deduplicated by a process that ensures distinct points are approximately 50 metres apart. This process removes the bias that would otherwise come from counting the same crimes several times in heavily populated areas.
Using a custom algorithm developed in-house, CrimeRate applies a crime severity weighting to each area's crime counts, based on the type of crime reported. This increases or decreases the crime count, or zeroes it out entirely, depending on the crime type. A separate crime severity rate is then calculated, standardised, and scaled to fit the crime risk score range of 1 to 1,000, with 1 being the lowest score, and 1,000 the highest.
Crime risk scores undergo further analysis per town, city, and village plus other areas including police forces and neighbourhoods. CrimeRate uses percentiles to work out the most common range of crime risk scores in each locality. This includes identifying the high and low bounds where approximately 68% of scores fall, and finding the median (50th percentile) for easy reference.
The crime types with a weight of zero are: Anti-Social Behaviour; Bicycle Theft; Other Crime; Other Theft; and Shoplifting. The highest weights to are assigned to Violence & Sexual Offences, and the lowest to Vehicle Crime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Crime in Orton Waterville