What is the crime rate in West Lancashire? 51 crimes per 1,000 residents
West Lancashire had 5,972 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 51 per 1,000 residents and Typical for England and Wales. Crime rose 1.0% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 5,972
- Compared with England and Wales
- Typical
- On the previous 12 months
- +1.0%
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 West LancashireWhat are the most common crimes in West Lancashire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in West Lancashire, with 3,006 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (26 per 1,000 residents). The England and Wales rate is 35 per 1,000.
| Crime type | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offencesBelow England and Wales | 26 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arsonBelow England and Wales | 5.3 per 1,000 |
| Other theftBelow England and Wales | 3.8 per 1,000 |
| Public orderBelow England and Wales | 3.2 per 1,000 |
| ShopliftingBelow England and Wales | 2.8 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crimeBelow England and Wales | 2.5 per 1,000 |
| BurglaryBelow England and Wales | 2.0 per 1,000 |
| Other crimeBelow England and Wales | 1.9 per 1,000 |
| DrugsBelow England and Wales | 1.8 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.0 per 1,000 |
| RobberyBelow England and Wales | 0.6 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theftBelow England and Wales | 0.2 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the personBelow England and Wales | 0.1 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 West Lancashire?
Crime rose 1.0% on the previous 12 months. 5,972 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 5,915 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of West Lancashire has the lowest crime rate?
Newburgh has the lowest crime rate of the 15 areas of West Lancashire, at 19 crimes per 1,000 residents. Skelmersdale has the highest, at 81. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| NewburghVery Low | 19 | Very Low | £458,625 |
| ParboldVery Low | 20 | Very Low | £438,636 |
| AughtonVery Low | 23 | Very Low | £457,629 |
| RuffordVery Low | 26 | Very Low | £344,545 |
| TarletonVery Low | 27 | Very Low | £291,703 |
| BickerstaffeVery Low | 28 | Very Low | £334,941 |
| WrightingtonVery Low | 28 | Very Low | £421,064 |
| Hesketh-with-BecconsallVery Low | 28 | Very Low | £321,723 |
| ScarisbrickLow | 32 | Low | £376,872 |
| North MeolsLow | 35 | Low | £261,923 |
| HalsallLow | 35 | Low | £498,933 |
| DownhollandLow | 37 | Low | £432,142 |
| Up HollandLow | 37 | Low | £255,340 |
| BurscoughHigh | 56 | High | £272,217 |
| SkelmersdaleVery High | 81 | Very High | £154,005 |
How does crime in West Lancashire compare with nearby areas?
Crime rate in West Lancashire compared with the 6 nearest other areas in Lancashire.
West Lancashire vs Chorley
- West Lancashire
- 51 per 1,000
- Chorley
- 64 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Lancashire vs South Ribble
- West Lancashire
- 51 per 1,000
- South Ribble
- 62 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Lancashire vs Fylde
- West Lancashire
- 51 per 1,000
- Fylde
- 56 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Lancashire vs Preston
- West Lancashire
- 51 per 1,000
- Preston
- 110 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Lancashire vs Wyre
- West Lancashire
- 51 per 1,000
- Wyre
- 66 per 1,000
Open comparison
West Lancashire vs Hyndburn
- West Lancashire
- 51 per 1,000
- Hyndburn
- 103 per 1,000
Open comparison
Is West Lancashire a safe place to live?
West Lancashire had 51 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, which is Typical among areas in England and Wales. Crime rose 1.0% 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 Typical, on a scale from Very Low to Very High.
Typical means the middle 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 West Lancashire?
Police recorded 1,502 incidents of anti-social behaviour in West Lancashire in the 12 months to August 2026, or 13 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is counted separately and is not included in the crime figures.
What else do people ask about West Lancashire?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in West Lancashire.
- What is the average house price in West Lancashire?
- When did average house prices in West Lancashire reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in West Lancashire?
- What type of properties are sold in West Lancashire?
- What price range do most homes sell for in West Lancashire?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of West Lancashire?
- How many parks and green spaces are in West Lancashire?
- How do West Lancashire 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 17:42 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The West Lancashire dataset covers 3,771 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.