The Cambridgeshire town has seen crime rates increase over the last 12 months, with residents reporting incidents ranging from knifepoint robberies to town centre assaults and anti-social behaviour
A Cambridgeshire town is being plagued by drunken men and violent youngsters, leaving residents too frightened to venture out after dark. Locals say the situation is deteriorating and are deeply concerned about what lies ahead.
Wisbech, a market town in the Fenland district of Cambridgeshire, has seen a surge in crime over the last 12 months. Residents have reported a range of incidents, from knifepoint robberies and town centre assaults to drug-related offences. Intimidating groups of youths are reportedly cycling through the town, whilst intoxicated homeless individuals hurl abuse at passers-by.
“I definitely wouldn’t come into the town at night,” Derek Logan told the Daily Express. His partner Gemma agreed with him
Mr Logan added: “I’ve heard some horror stories about the knives that people carry around here. That’s a big issue and makes you feel scared. There’s been stabbings and robberies recently,” reports the Express.
The 57-year-old and his partner, aged 42, were both born in Wisbech. Mr Logan said: “I don’t feel safe coming into the town to shop. I was born and raised here, but it’s changed a hell of a lot recently. I definitely wouldn’t come into the town centre after dark.
“Definitely not. It’s not safe. A 14-year-old got stabbed a couple of years ago. Luckily he was wearing a backpack and it took the impact so he was ok.”
According to official figures, Wisbech, with a population of approximately 27,000, recorded 3,084 reported crimes during the 12 months leading up to January 2026. This equates to a crime rate of 116.2 per 1,000 residents, marking it as the highest amongst medium-sized towns across Cambridgeshire.
In contrast, neighbouring Huntingdon recorded a rate of 84.44 whilst St Neots stood at 58.74. The national average sits at 72 per 1,000 people.
Violence and sexual offences were the most frequently reported crimes in Wisbech, with 1,357 incidents logged during the 12-month period. This represented a 2% increase compared to the previous year.
New Drove, situated off Weasenham Lane, saw the highest number of crimes in Wisbech with 270 offences recorded in total, averaging 22.5 per month. Theft accounted for the majority of these crimes at 84.1%, whilst burglary represented 11.1% of offences.
Geoff Scott, who relocated to Wisbech from Clacton-on-Sea nine years ago, is concerned that crime is worsening in the town. He recently cautioned his wife against visiting the shop after dark.
He said: “It’s getting worse here. I don’t go into the town centre after dark, whereas I used to.
“Last night my Mrs wanted to nip to Asda at 6.30pm, but I said no as it was dark. I told her she wasn’t going. It’s scary after dark here. It’s got out of hand over the last year or so I would say.”
According to Mr Scott, there has been a spate of recent knifepoint robberies in the town centre. He’s also heard of youths carrying knives and threatening residents.
“My main concern is like everyone else’s,” he continued. “We need to feel safe in our home and at the moment we don’t.”
The rising crime rate in Wisbech is also taking its toll on local businesses, with some traders believing that recent incidents have directly reduced footfall in the town, dealing a significant blow to their livelihoods.
Neil Bullen, who co-owns Evisons clothes shop on the High Street with his wife Becky, says he has witnessed criminal activity from his shop window on a number of occasions, and believes the majority of offences occur after dark.
“I’ve seen a bit going on in town and around the marketplace. I think the worst things happen at night, usually,” the 59-year-old explained. “You see kids in groups riding around on their bikes. It can be intimidating for the locals. You don’t know what they’re up to.
“The older generation in Wisbech will be able to remember how things used to be here. Sadly, now a lot of older people don’t feel safe coming into the town centre.”
Mr Bullen claims that customers visiting his shop report “they don’t feel safe” around the town any longer. This, he believes, is having a direct impact on footfall.
Mrs Bullen added: “There are various issues in the town. A lot of shops have closed recently which means less people are coming into Wisbech.
“This means that anti-social behaviour actually stands out more as when people do come in that’s all they say. There aren’t crowds of people to hide what happens. The kids might feel like they can get away with it as the place is deserted. There’s no one to report them.”
Mackenzie Miller and Emma Plumb have both allegedly been victims of crimes committed in Wisbech over recent months.
Ms Plumb, 45, was reportedly assaulted by an intoxicated man in an unprovoked attack whilst Mr Miller, a 62 year old wheelchair user, was targeted by a group of young men. Both incidents were reported to police.
“I got assaulted a couple of months ago in the town centre. It was random and a drunk man came up to me and grabbed me. Luckily there was a security guard and they intervened,” Ms Plumb explained. “It gets scarier after dark, I’d say. I wouldn’t come here any more at night. It’s not what you want for the place where you live. You want to feel safe coming into your town at any time.”
Mr Miller added: “There’s often drunk blokes in the town centre shouting at people and making threats. A couple of months ago I was sitting here and a group of lads kept kicking their ball at my chair. They thought it was funny and there’s nothing I could do really. I just had to leave.
“The main issues I’ve seen have come from the school kids. They just ride around on bikes being a nuisance. Anti-social behaviour is an issue.”
Just last month, a man was jailed for over a year for his role in a violent altercation that erupted outside a Wisbech pub just days before Christmas. Kyle Harris, 36, attacked a man outside the Wheatshead Inn on December 23, leaving the victim requiring hospital treatment.
Cambridge Crown Court was told how Harris became embroiled in a dispute with another man before repeatedly punching him and stamping on him whilst he lay unconscious. Police condemned his behaviour as “shameful”, stating “there is no place for violence like this in Wisbech.”
Separately, another man was handed a custodial sentence at the end of last year for stalking and sexual assault offences. Kehinde Quadri, 49, was imprisoned for one year after pleading guilty to three counts of stalking and one count of sexual assault. Peterborough Crown Court heard how he stalked a woman and her partner on two separate occasions in Wisbech town centre, standing outside a coffee shop and staring through the window at the pair.
In a further incident, Quadri approached a woman as she was walking her children to school, reaching into her bag before grabbing her two children and hugging them forcefully.
In response to the rising number of offences in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire Police have introduced Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) to tackle criminal behaviour. The town is also now patrolled by the Wisbech Town Wardens, who began their duties on January 5 this year.
One PSPO makes it an offence to carry open alcohol in Tillery Fields, St Peter’s Church Gardens, and the memorial garden in The Crescent, whilst authorised officers have been granted powers to address alcohol-related anti-social behaviour in Wisbech town centre.
A separate PSPO has resulted in the closure of the passageway connecting Norfolk Street and West Street. The alleyway, which had become a hotspot for criminal activity, has been shut to “help reduce anti-social behaviour”, according to Fenland District Council.
Daniel Short, one of the newly appointed Wisbech Town Wardens, has identified street drinkers as the primary concern in the town. The town centre is also troubled by groups of youths on bicycles, who are suspected of dealing drugs. “We’re here for people’s safety and to cut down anti-social behaviour in the town. We also help the homeless and deal with street drinkers in the PSPO areas,” he tells the Express. “I think we help give a presence to make sure people feel safe in their town again.
“The town council has had a number of worrying complaints recently that people don’t feel safe to come into the centre. That’s why they’ve hired us.”
He continues: “These things haven’t always been an issue in Wisbech. It’s very much a recent thing. That’s why they’ve got us to do what we do. There’s been more and more complaints recently about people feeling unsafe in the town.”
Since beginning his position in January, Mr Short has received numerous compliments from residents who say his presence, together with fellow Wisbech Warden, Evelina Jakovleva, has made them feel more secure.
Ms Jakovleva added: “We’ve spoken with shop owners who think we’ve helped them too. A worker in TG Jones said there’s been a drop in shoplifters in the last few months. That’s been a real issue in the town centre previously.”
Neighbourhood Sergeant Lee Lombardo said: “We recognise the concerns raised by residents in Wisbech, and we understand that issues such as antisocial behaviour, drug misuse and associated criminality can have a real impact on how safe people feel in their own community. Tackling these problems remains one of our top priorities.
“We’ve increased proactive patrols in and around the town centre, with both uniformed officers and PCSOs spending more time on foot to provide visibility, reassurance and a quick response to incidents. These patrols are supported by targeted operations to crackdown on drugrelated crime and persistent antisocial behaviour.
“We’re also working closely with partners including Fenland District Council, local businesses, housing providers and community groups to identify the root causes of issues and put long term solutions in place after dealing with incidents. Where necessary, we use enforcement tools such as Community Protection Notices and Warnings, Criminal Behaviour Orders and closure powers to deal with persistent offenders.
“Whilst there is always more work to do, the public can be assured that we are committed to improving safety in the town centre and will continue to use every tool available to us to make Wisbech a safer place for everyone.
“We also encourage members of the public to report any concerns, suspicious behaviour or incidents to us, as this information is vital in helping us target resources, identify offenders and tackle issues early.”
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