Whittle-le-Woods Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Whittle-le-Woods, a built-up area within Chorley, continues to exhibit a crime profile markedly lower than the UK average, with a rate of 2.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in February 2026—56.2% below the national figure of 6.4 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area’s relative safety, though the composition of crimes tells a more nuanced story. Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime picture, accounting for 68.4% of total incidents, a share that exceeds the UK average for this category by 18%. This dominance of violent crime may reflect the area’s character as a small, closely-knit community where interpersonal conflicts are more likely to escalate. Anti-social behaviour, while still present, has seen a sharp decline of 75% compared to January, potentially influenced by seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity during the winter months. The low rates of property crimes—burglary, vehicle crime, and theft—further reinforce the area’s safety, with these categories all registering 20-52% below UK averages. February, as a winter month, typically sees lower outdoor engagement, which may partly explain the subdued levels of property-related offences. However, the 100% increases in vehicle crime, drugs, and other theft suggest that certain vulnerabilities persist, even in an otherwise low-crime environment. These fluctuations highlight the need for ongoing vigilance and community-focused strategies to address emerging trends.

February 2026 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with three categories experiencing 100% increases from January: vehicle crime, drugs, and other theft. This surge in specific offences highlights a potential reallocation of criminal activity. Conversely, anti-social behaviour dropped by 75%, from eight incidents to two, a decrease that may reflect seasonal factors or localized interventions. The crime mix also shifted significantly, with violent crimes accounting for 68.4% of total incidents—well above the UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.3 per 1,000). This concentration of violent crime contrasts with the area’s generally low property crime rates, which are 43-52% below the UK average for categories like burglary and theft. For residents, the 100% increase in vehicle crime is a concrete data point that may prompt closer attention to vehicle security measures, particularly given the area’s built-up character and potential for parking congestion.

Whittle-le-Woods recorded a crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents in February 2026, marking an 11.5% increase from the previous month’s 2.5 per 1,000. This rise, while modest, contrasts with the area’s consistent position well below the UK average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 354 residents, a figure that places the area in a starkly different context from national trends. Daily crime counts averaged just one incident per day, reflecting the low overall volume. When scaled to the population of 6,732, this suggests that the likelihood of encountering crime is significantly lower than in many other parts of the UK. The shift in crime mix—particularly the rise in violent offences compared to property crimes—adds nuance to the monthly picture. While the area’s overall safety profile remains strong, the increase in violent incidents warrants attention to local factors that may influence such trends, such as seasonal patterns or community dynamics.