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

Whittle-le-Woods’ crime rate in January 2026 stood at 2.5 per 1,000 residents, 63.2% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This figure, while showing a 13.5% increase from December’s 2.2, remains firmly in the lower bracket of national comparisons. The area’s crime profile was dominated by anti-social behaviour, which accounted for 47.1% of all incidents, followed by violence and sexual offences (41.2%). These patterns align with the seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by reduced retail footfall and shorter days, which may contribute to a shift in criminal activity from outdoor spaces to more confined, local settings. The dominance of anti-social behaviour, which is 29% above the UK average of 0.9 per 1,000, contrasts with the area’s generally low rates for other categories, such as burglary (0.2 per 1,000, 29% below UK average) and criminal damage (0.2 per 1,000, 58% below UK average). This suggests a unique local dynamic, where community interactions and social cohesion may play a role in shaping crime trends. The low overall rate, despite the surge in anti-social behaviour, reinforces Whittle-le-Woods’ position as a relatively safe built-up area within Chorley, where crime is infrequent but not absent. Such data underscores the importance of targeted interventions to address specific issues, like anti-social behaviour, without compromising the broader security of the community.

January 2026 saw a dramatic 700% increase in anti-social behaviour, rising from one to eight incidents, the most significant jump among all categories. This surge may partly reflect the post-holiday period, when reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours could alter community dynamics. Concurrently, burglary doubled from zero to one incident, though this remains well below the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences decreased by 30%, from 10 to seven, aligning with the area’s 60% below UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour’s rate of 1.2 per 1,000—29% above the UK average—contrasts sharply with the 29% below average for burglary and criminal damage. These shifts underscore a combination of local conditions and broader national trends, with anti-social behaviour emerging as a focal point for residents and authorities.

Whittle-le-Woods’ crime rate rose by 13.5% from 2.2 to 2.5 per 1,000 residents in January 2026, marking a slight upward trend. However, this remains 63.2% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000, underscoring the area’s continued relative safety. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 396 residents—a figure that, while low, reflects the small population of 6,732. Daily crime context shows an average of one crime per day in January, consistent with the area’s sparse distribution of incidents. This suggests that while local crime levels are rising modestly, the scale remains far below national benchmarks. The increase may partly explain the attention on anti-social behaviour, which surged by 700%, though overall crime trends still align with the area’s historically low rates.