Oswaldtwistle Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Oswaldtwistle, 8.3 crimes were reported in April 2024 — 7.8% above the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This translates to a daily risk of roughly 2 crimes per day for the built-up area within Hyndburn. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 45.2% of all reported incidents, significantly higher than the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour followed at 16.4%, and shoplifting made up 8.2% of the total. These figures align with April’s seasonal context: Easter holidays, warmer spring weather, and increased outdoor activity in local parks and public spaces. The higher rate of violent crime may reflect the area’s character as a mixed-use town with a concentration of residential and retail spaces, where interactions between different demographics could contribute to tensions. While shoplifting is typically associated with high-traffic retail areas, the 0.7 per 1,000 rate in Oswaldtwistle is only 4% above the UK average, suggesting that local retail environments are not affected. However, the 212% spike in 'other crime' — a category that includes unclassified incidents — raises questions about underreporting or evolving criminal patterns that may warrant closer attention.

April 2024 saw a 100% increase in bicycle theft, rising from 0 to 3 incidents — a sharp contrast to the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This surge may be linked to the Easter holiday period, when more residents and visitors are likely to cycle for leisure or travel. Robbery rates also doubled, with 2 incidents reported (up from 1), though this remains below the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. Conversely, public order offences fell by 75% (from 4 to 1), possibly due to reduced foot traffic during school holidays or improved policing in key areas. The breakdown of crime types reveals a stark imbalance: violence and sexual offences (3.7 per 1,000) are 45% above the UK average, while vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) is 57% below the national rate. This contrast may reflect Oswaldtwistle’s limited industrial or commercial infrastructure, which reduces opportunities for vehicle-related crimes. The rate of 'other crime' — a category that includes unclassified incidents — is 212% above the UK average, highlighting a potential gap in data categorisation or an emerging trend that could benefit from further analysis.

Oswaldtwistle’s crime rate in April 2024 (8.3 per 1,000) was a 2.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.5 per 1,000, suggesting a slight improvement in local conditions. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 121 residents — a figure that contextualises the risk in everyday terms. While this monthly exposure rate is higher than the UK average, it remains relatively low compared to other urban areas. The daily crime count of 2 incidents per day may seem frequent, but this reflects a small population base of 8,833 residents. For perspective, this equates to a 1-in-121 chance of experiencing a crime over the month — a rate that, while above the UK average, is still manageable for a community of this size. The fluctuation in specific crime types between March and April underscores the importance of considering seasonal factors: for example, the drop in public order offences may be tied to school holidays reducing pedestrian activity, while the rise in bicycle theft could reflect increased cycling during spring. These patterns highlight the dynamic nature of crime in a small built-up area, where local events and weather can have a measurable impact on incident rates.