Cowling Crime Rate

Cowling Crime Overview

Cowling is a safe and secure urban settlement with a safety score of 91/100, placing it significantly above the UK average of 78/100. The village maintains an overall crime rate of 35.3 per 1,000 residents, which is less than half the national average of 93.1. Furthermore, the crime trend in Cowling is moving in a positive direction, with a 10.2% decrease recorded year-over-year. While the area is generally very safe, property crime—specifically burglary—is more prevalent here than in some neighbouring areas, necessitating a focused approach to home security. The following sections detail the crime breakdown, temporal patterns, and local trends to help residents stay informed and secure.

Crime Breakdown in Cowling

The crime landscape in Cowling is primarily defined by violence and sexual offences, which make up 33.0% of all reported incidents. Unusually for the region, burglary is the second most common crime at 15.9%, followed by anti-social behaviour at 13.6%. These figures suggest that while personal safety is a concern, residential security is a particularly high priority for this area.

Property-related crime in Cowling is significant, with a combined rate of 14.0 per 1,000 people. This includes burglary, vehicle crime (6.8%), other theft (8.0%), and criminal damage. The fact that burglary is the second highest crime type overall is a critical data point for residents. Furthermore, burglary remains the most frequent crime across all time periods, peaking at a staggering 51% of all afternoon offences. For homeowners in Cowling, this underscores the necessity of robust, around-the-clock home security to protect against opportunistic and planned break-ins.

Crime Trends in Cowling

The crime trend in Cowling is currently decreasing, with a 10.2% reduction in total offences over the past year. Monthly analysis shows that the crime rate per 1,000 residents typically stays between 1.6 and 4.4. The busiest months were August 2025 (4.4) and May 2025 (4.0), while the lowest activity was recorded in February 2025 (1.6). Despite some minor spikes during the summer months, the overall trajectory has been downwards. This steady decline suggests that Cowling is maintaining its reputation as a safe village, with criminal activity remaining well below both regional and national averages.

How To Keep Safe in Cowling

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Cowling, followed closely by burglary. Residents should take a balanced approach to personal and property safety.

1. Prioritise Home Security: With burglary being a top-two crime, ensure all ground-floor windows and doors have high-quality locks. Consider upgrading to anti-snap locks for extra protection.
2. Daytime Vigilance: Since 51% of burglaries occur in the afternoon, always lock up properly even if you are only popping out for a few minutes or working in the back garden.
3. Personal Safety at Night: When walking through the village in the evening, stick to well-lit paths and stay aware of your surroundings. Avoid wearing headphones which can reduce situational awareness.
4. Secure Your Vehicle: Vehicle crime peaks at night. Ensure no valuables are left on display and consider using a steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent.
5. Join Neighbourhood Watch: Engaging with your neighbours can help create a more resilient community. Sharing information about suspicious activity can prevent crimes before they occur.

Temporal Crime Patterns in Cowling

Cowling exhibits very specific temporal crime patterns, particularly regarding property offences. Burglary is a persistent threat throughout the 24-hour cycle, but it reaches a peak in the afternoon (12 pm - 6 pm), where it accounts for 51% of all crimes reported in that period. It also remains high in the evening and night, representing 48% of incidents in both timeframes. Vehicle crime is most concentrated during the night (12 am - 6 am), accounting for 32% of crimes. Theft is more common in the morning and afternoon. This data suggests that while residents should be wary of vehicle theft at night, the risk of burglary is highest during the day and early evening, requiring constant vigilance.

Local Context: Nearby Areas

In the local context of the Craven local authority, Cowling is one of the safer settlements. Its crime rate of 35.3 per 1,000 is lower than both Sutton-in-Craven (43.4) and Cross Hills (44.9). However, it is slightly higher than Cononley, which sits at 30.0. As with many rural parts of North Yorkshire, there are nearby areas like Farnhill that report no crime at all. This comparison shows that while Cowling is exceptionally safe on a national scale, it occupies a middle ground within its immediate geographic cluster, with specific local challenges related to burglary that residents should be aware of.

Proactive Protection for Cowling Homes

With a property crime rate of 14.0 per 1,000 and burglary being the second most common crime type, Cowling residents face a specific need for high-quality home security. The data shows that burglary is a threat throughout the day and night, peaking significantly in the afternoon. Standard security systems like Ring or Nest are reactive; they notify you after someone has already stepped onto your porch or triggered a sensor. By then, the psychological impact of the intrusion has already occurred.

For true peace of mind in Cowling, a proactive security operating system like scOS is recommended. scOS uses AI to detect threats at your property boundary, not after a break-in. It monitors all your cameras simultaneously and can autonomously trigger lights or speakers to deter an intruder. Whether it's an opportunistic afternoon burglar or a night-time car thief, scOS intervenes in real-time. This proactive approach prevents the crime from happening in the first place, offering a level of protection that traditional recording devices simply cannot match.