Whittle-le-Woods Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Whittle-le-Woods recorded a crime rate of 4.5 per 1,000 residents in January 2025, placing it 36.6% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This figure, while showing a 232.8% increase from December 2024, remains in line with the area's historical pattern of relatively low crime levels. The top three crime types—vehicle crime (36.7% of total), violence and sexual offences (23.3%), and anti-social behaviour (20.0%)—reflect a mix of transport-related vulnerabilities and social issues. The dominance of vehicle crime, which is 290% above the UK average, suggests a specific challenge in securing parked vehicles, possibly linked to the area's built-up nature and limited parking infrastructure. Meanwhile, the area's violent crime rate is 60% below the national average, a contrast that may be attributed to Whittle-le-Woods' character as a quieter, less densely populated built-up area within Chorley. Seasonal factors in January—such as post-holiday periods, reduced retail activity, and shorter daylight hours—likely contribute to the shift in crime patterns, with fewer opportunities for outdoor crimes but increased focus on vehicle-related theft. These dynamics highlight the combination of local geography, seasonal rhythms, and crime prevention priorities.

January 2025 marked a dramatic shift in Whittle-le-Woods, with anti-social behaviour surging by 500% (from 1 to 6 incidents) and violence and sexual offences rising by 133.3% (from 3 to 7). These spikes, though concerning, occurred against a backdrop of vehicle crime dominating the crime profile at 36.7% of all incidents, a rate 290% above the UK average of 0.4 per 1,000. The area's violent crime rate, however, remained 60% below the UK average. This stark contrast between vehicle crime and other categories suggests a specific vulnerability in transport-related security, possibly linked to the area's built-up character and proximity to major roads. For residents, the most immediate concern is the 290% excess in vehicle crime, which could signal targeted theft or unsecured vehicles in local parking areas. The 500% rise in anti-social behaviour, though unexplained by the data, may reflect post-holiday social dynamics or unaddressed community tensions.

Whittle-le-Woods saw a sharp 232.8% increase in its crime rate from 1.3 per 1,000 in December 2024 to 4.5 per 1,000 in January 2025. This jump, though substantial, still leaves the area 36.6% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day in January, a figure that translates to one reported crime for roughly every 224 residents over the course of the month. While this suggests a low level of exposure compared to the national average, the spike in January highlights a seasonal fluctuation that may be linked to post-holiday patterns or changes in local activity. The population context further illustrates that even with the rise, the overall risk to residents remains relatively low, as the crime rate per capita remains well below the UK benchmark. This contrast between the area's local trajectory and national trends underscores the importance of contextualising crime statistics within specific geographic and demographic frameworks.