What is the crime rate in Preston? 110 crimes per 1,000 residents
Preston had 16,256 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 110 per 1,000 residents and Very High for England and Wales. Crime rose 4.4% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 16,256
- Compared with England and Wales
- Very High
- On the previous 12 months
- +4.4%
Police-recorded crime in the 12 months to August 2026, per 1,000 residents (Census 2021). Anti-social behaviour is not included. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk. How we calculate this
All house prices in PrestonWhat are the most common crimes in Preston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in Preston, with 7,453 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (50 per 1,000 residents). The England and Wales rate is 35 per 1,000. 8 of 13 crime types are more than 10% above the England and Wales rate.
| Crime type | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offencesAbove England and Wales | 50 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonAbove England and Wales | 11 per 1,000 |
| Shoplifting | 9.5 per 1,000 |
| Public orderAbove England and Wales | 8.2 per 1,000 |
| Other theftAbove England and Wales | 7.9 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crime | 5.6 per 1,000 |
| DrugsAbove England and Wales | 4.6 per 1,000 |
| Burglary | 4.0 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeAbove England and Wales | 3.3 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weaponsAbove England and Wales | 1.8 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftAbove England and Wales | 1.6 per 1,000 |
| Robbery | 1.4 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.8 per 1,000 |
Tags mark crime types more than 10% above or below the England and Wales rate for the same type.
Is crime going up or down in Preston?
Crime rose 4.4% on the previous 12 months. 16,256 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 15,571 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of Preston has the lowest crime rate?
Barton has the lowest crime rate of the 8 areas of Preston, at 34 crimes per 1,000 residents. Broughton has the highest, at 100. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| BartonLow | 34 | Low | £383,703 |
| GoosnarghLow | 37 | Low | £400,418 |
| GrimsarghTypical | 48 | Typical | £326,234 |
| WoodplumptonTypical | 53 | Typical | £307,088 |
| LeaHigh | 64 | High | £285,022 |
| WhittinghamVery High | 85 | Very High | £290,900 |
| Ingol and TantertonVery High | 94 | Very High | £152,934 |
| BroughtonVery High | 100 | Very High | £347,089 |
How does crime in Preston compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in Preston compared with the 6 nearest other areas in Lancashire.
Preston vs South Ribble
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
- South Ribble
- 62 per 1,000
Open comparison
Preston vs Wyre
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
- Wyre
- 66 per 1,000
Open comparison
Preston vs Fylde
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
- Fylde
- 56 per 1,000
Open comparison
Preston vs Chorley
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
- Chorley
- 64 per 1,000
Open comparison
Preston vs Ribble Valley
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
- Ribble Valley
- 42 per 1,000
Open comparison
Preston vs Hyndburn
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
- Hyndburn
- 103 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is Preston a safe place to live?
Preston had 110 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Very High among areas in England and Wales. Crime rose 4.4% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences. These are crimes reported to the police, not a safety rating. City-centre and retail areas have high rates because crimes against visitors and shops are counted, but only residents are in the population.
Crime rate is Very High, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
Very High means the highest fifth of areas in England and Wales by crime rate. The bands split every area we cover into fifths by crime rate, from Very Low to Very High.
How much anti-social behaviour is there in Preston?
Police recorded 4,464 incidents of anti-social behaviour in Preston in the 12 months to August 2026, or 30 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is counted separately and is not included in the crime figures.
What else do people ask about Preston?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in Preston.
- What is the average house price in Preston?
- When did average house prices in Preston reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in Preston?
- What type of properties are sold in Preston?
- What price range do most homes sell for in Preston?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of Preston?
- How many parks and green spaces are in Preston?
- How do Preston house prices compare with another area?
Where does this data come from?
Price information is from HM Land Registry, location boundaries are from OpenStreetMap, and households and population are from Nomis Census 2021 postcode estimates (21 March 2021). Parks and green space are from OS Open Greenspace. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Crime is from police.uk street-level data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk.
Last updated 31 October 2026 at 17:43 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The Preston dataset covers 6,043 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.