Alston Crime Rate

Alston is a remote and historically secure town situated in the North Pennines. The town currently maintains an overall crime rate of 59.4 per 1,000 people, which is significantly lower than the UK national average of 93.1. This high level of safety is reflected in an impressive safety score of 85/100, well above the UK average of 78. Additionally, Alston is experiencing a positive trend in safety, with crime decreasing by 7.6% year-over-year. This downward trajectory indicates that the town remains a very secure environment for its residents and businesses. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of crime types, seasonal trends, and localized safety advice to help you understand the safety profile of this unique upland community.

In Alston, violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes, accounting for 44.3% of all incidents. This is followed by public order offences at 12.3% and shoplifting at 9.0%. While personal and public order crimes lead the statistics, property-related crime is a significant factor for the community. The overall property crime rate in Alston—including burglary, theft, shoplifting, and vehicle crime—is 17.5 per 1,000 residents.

Specifically, shoplifting (5.3 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (2.4 per 1,000) are the most common property offences, while burglary is relatively low at 1.5 per 1,000 residents. For homeowners and local businesses, this suggests that while the risk of a serious home break-in is statistically low, the presence of theft and vehicle-related crime highlights the need for consistent property security and vigilance to protect against opportunist offences.

The crime trend in Alston is currently positive, with a year-over-year decrease of 7.6%. This indicates a steady improvement in the town's safety. Monthly data for 2025 shows that crime rates fluctuated between a low of 2.0 per 1,000 people in January and a peak of 10.2 in June. The June peak is likely related to the increase in visitors during the early summer. Outside of this peak, most months recorded rates between 2.4 and 7.3. This sustained overall reduction is an encouraging sign for Alston's residents and suggests that the town remains a very secure and stable location.

How To Keep Safe in Alston

The most common crime type in Alston is violence and sexual offences, making up 44.3% of reports. While the town is generally very safe, its remote location and seasonal visitor peaks mean personal safety should remain a priority.

1. When walking in the town centre or on more isolated paths in the evening, stick to well-lit areas and ensure you have a fully charged mobile phone.
2. Be vigilant with personal belongings in public spaces, particularly during peak tourist times, to prevent opportunist shoplifting or other thefts.
3. If you are a business owner, ensure your premises are well-secured and that you have visible security measures in place to deter shoplifting and public order offences.
4. Ensure your home's exterior is well-illuminated and that all entry points are secured, particularly if your property is in a more secluded part of the town.
5. Participate in local community watch schemes to stay informed about any suspicious vehicles or activity in this relatively isolated upland area.

Crime in Alston shows distinct temporal trends, largely driven by theft and vehicle crime. Theft is most prevalent during the morning (47%) and afternoon (55%), coinciding with the town's business and visitor hours. As the day transitions into the evening and night, the profile shifts significantly. Night-time crime is dominated by vehicle crime, which accounts for 46% of reported incidents during those hours. Burglary also reaches its highest proportional peak at night (12%). These patterns suggest that daytime activity is primarily theft-related, while nighttime risks are more focused on vehicle-related and intrusive property offences.

Alston's crime rate of 59.4 is much lower than nearby Haltwhistle (70.2) and the district's main hub, Penrith (97.8). It is more comparable to Allendale Town (32.1) and Lazonby (26.2), though it has a slightly higher rate than these areas. Nearby Redburn recorded a crime rate of 0.0, highlighting the extreme safety of some surrounding rural communities. Overall, Alston's position as a relatively safe town within a secure region is clear, offering a much higher level of safety than the UK average and many other regional centres.

In Alston, the property crime rate is 17.5 per 1,000 residents, which is well below the UK national average. However, the town's isolated location and its appeal to visitors mean that opportunist theft and vehicle crime can still occur. Traditional reactive security systems, like standard CCTV, often only provide evidence after a crime has been committed, which does little to prevent the initial intrusion or loss of property.

For Alston residents seeking the highest level of protection, a proactive AI-powered system like scOS is the recommended solution. scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property's perimeter and detect threats before they reach your home. By identifying suspicious behaviour, it can trigger autonomous responses such as activating lights or audio warnings to deter potential intruders. This professional-grade deterrence is designed to stop a crime before it happens. In a town where crime is already on a downward trend, scOS provides the advanced technology needed to ensure your property remains safe and secure year-round.