Great Harwood Crime Rate

Great Harwood currently has an overall crime rate of 121.9 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the UK average of 93.1. Despite this elevated figure, the area maintains a safety score of 72/100, indicating a level of security that, while below the UK average of 78, remains higher than many neighbouring urban centres. The recent trend direction for Great Harwood is increasing, with a significant 26.4% rise in reported incidents year-over-year. This data suggests that while the town has historically been considered relatively safe, there is a growing need for community awareness and proactive security measures to address the recent uptick in local criminal activity.

In Great Harwood, the most prevalent crime categories are violence and sexual offences, which account for 36.4% of all reported incidents (486 crimes). This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 30.2% and criminal damage and arson at 6.5%. When evaluating property-related crime—which encompasses burglary, robbery, theft from the person, vehicle crime, and other thefts—the area records a rate of 31.8 per 1,000 people. This is marginally lower than the UK average of 32.9, suggesting that while social and violent offences are elevated, property security remains relatively stable. However, vehicle crime still represents 6.1% of the local total, indicating that residents should remain cautious about leaving valuables in cars. For homeowners, the combination of criminal damage and property theft means that maintaining a visible security presence is essential to deter opportunistic offenders who may target residential streets.

The crime trend in Great Harwood is currently increasing, with a notable 26.4% rise in total incidents over the last year. Analysis of monthly data shows that the crime rate peaked at 11.7 per 1,000 residents in both December 2024 and July 2025. Conversely, the lowest activity was recorded in February 2025 (8.2) and October 2025 (8.5). This volatility suggests that while certain months are quieter, the overall trajectory is upward. For residents, this means that the historical safety of the area is being challenged by a significant increase in reported offences. This trend highlights the importance of community vigilance and the adoption of more robust home security measures to combat the rising local crime rate.

How To Keep Safe in Great Harwood

The highest crime category in Great Harwood is violence and sexual offences. To stay safe in public, try to stick to well-lit, busy routes when walking at night and avoid shortcuts through isolated areas or parks. If you are out late, ensure you have planned your journey home in advance and share your location with a trusted contact. For residential safety, ensure your home's exterior is well-illuminated with motion-sensor lighting, which can also deter the anti-social behaviour that ranks as the town's second-highest crime type. Joining a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme can provide real-time updates on local issues. Finally, always keep your vehicle secure and avoid leaving any items on display, as vehicle crime is a notable night-time concern in the area. Reporting any suspicious activity to the police via 101 helps authorities better allocate resources to local hotspots.

Crime in Great Harwood follows distinct temporal cycles throughout the day. The morning period (6am-12pm) is characterised by theft-related offences, which make up 40% of reports, likely targeting commuters and early shoppers. This trend continues into the afternoon (12pm-6pm), where theft rises to 48% and burglary reaches its daily peak of 18%. As evening approaches (6pm-12am), 'other' crimes, often including anti-social behaviour, become more prominent at 41%. The most striking pattern occurs at night (12am-6am), when vehicle crime surges to account for 54% of all incidents. This suggests that vehicles parked on residential streets are at their most vulnerable during the early hours of the morning, while properties are most at risk of burglary during daylight hours.

Great Harwood is situated within a regional cluster of Lancashire towns with diverse safety profiles. Its crime rate of 121.9 is almost identical to that of nearby Rishton (121.7), suggesting shared socio-economic trends. It is slightly more active than Clayton-le-Moors, which records 109.0 crimes per 1,000 people. For those seeking a quieter environment, Langho offers a lower rate of 78.7. The most significant local contrast is Billington in the Ribble Valley, which is exceptionally safe with a crime rate of just 37.0. These comparisons help contextualise Great Harwood as a typical urban settlement within the Hyndburn area, experiencing higher activity than rural fringes but remaining safer than larger regional hubs.

With a property crime rate of 31.8 per 1,000 in Great Harwood, homeowners should consider the limitations of traditional security. Most standard CCTV systems are reactive, meaning they only provide footage after a crime has been committed. In an area where vehicle crime accounts for over half of night-time incidents, proactive protection is a far more effective strategy. scOS is an AI-powered operating system that transforms standard security into an active deterrent. By identifying threats at the property boundary, scOS can trigger autonomous responses such as activating lights or engaging speakers to scare off intruders before they gain access to your home or vehicle. This preventative approach is essential in Great Harwood, where the 'element of surprise' is often the only thing stopping a criminal. Moving from recording to preventing is the key to true peace of mind.