Rishton Crime Rate

Rishton has an overall crime rate of 121.7 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the UK average of 93.1. Despite this, the area maintains a safety score of 72/100, indicating a level of security that, while below the national average of 78, is consistent with many urban settlements in Lancashire. The recent trend direction for Rishton is stable, showing a minor 4.4% decrease year-over-year. This stability suggests that while crime is a factor, the area is not experiencing significant spikes in activity. For residents, this context provides a predictable safety environment where the focus remains on addressing persistent issues like anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.

In Rishton, the crime profile is dominated by violence and sexual offences, which account for 38.3% of all reported incidents (310 crimes). Anti-social behaviour is the second most common category at 30.9% (250 crimes), followed by criminal damage and arson at 11.6%. When looking at property crime collectively—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft—the rate stands at 28.6 per 1,000 residents. This is lower than the UK average property crime rate of 32.9, suggesting that Rishton is relatively secure against theft-related offences. However, criminal damage is notably higher here than in some neighbouring areas. For residents and homeowners, this means that while the risk of burglary is statistically low (2.6%), the impact of vandalism and social nuisance is more significant. Protecting the exterior of your home and maintaining a visible security presence are important for deterring these types of offences.

Rishton's crime trend is currently stable, with a minor 4.4% decrease in total incidents over the last year. Monthly data shows a peak in November 2024, where the crime rate was 13.1 per 1,000 residents, followed by consistent levels through the spring and summer of 2025. The lowest activity was recorded in February 2025 (7.7) and September 2025 (8.1). This stability suggests that the area's safety profile is consistent, without the rapid fluctuations seen in some neighbouring towns. For residents, this means that while crime remains a factor, the environment is predictable, allowing for consistent property security and community awareness measures to be maintained throughout the year.

How To Keep Safe in Rishton

The highest crime category in Rishton is violence and sexual offences. To enhance personal safety, try to stay in well-lit, busy areas when walking after dark and avoid isolated shortcuts. For homeowners, anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue; ensuring your property has clear boundaries and visible security can discourage loitering and nuisance activity. To protect against criminal damage—the third most significant local issue—ensure your home's exterior is well-lit with motion-sensor lighting and keep any high-value items like vehicles or garden equipment out of sight. Burglary is most common in the afternoon, so if you are out during the day, consider using timer switches for your lights to create the appearance of someone being home. Finally, joining a local neighbourhood watch or safety group can help you stay informed about any emerging crime patterns in your specific part of Rishton.

Crime in Rishton follows a distinct temporal pattern. The morning period (6am-12pm) is characterised by theft, which accounts for 27% of reports. This trend continues in the afternoon (12pm-6pm), with theft rising to 29% and burglary reaching its daily peak of 18%. During the evening (6pm-12am), 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour, become the most frequent at 69%. The night period (12am-6am) sees vehicle crime account for 24% of incidents, while burglary remains at 18%. This suggests that while properties are most vulnerable to burglary during the day and late at night, social nuisance crimes are heavily concentrated in the evening hours. Taking extra precautions during these specific windows can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of local crime.

Rishton is part of a cluster of Lancashire towns with very similar safety profiles. Its crime rate of 121.7 is almost identical to that of Great Harwood (121.9) and Oswaldtwistle (124.9). It is notably safer than nearby Church (157.6), which experiences significantly higher levels of reported incidents. Conversely, Clayton-le-Moors offers a slightly lower crime rate of 109.0. This regional context shows that Rishton sits in the middle of the safety spectrum for the local authority, offering a similar residential environment to its closest neighbours while being more secure than the larger regional hubs.

In Rishton, where property crime stands at 28.6 per 1,000, residents should be aware of the limitations of traditional CCTV. Most standard systems are reactive; they record a crime as it happens, but they do nothing to stop it. To truly secure your property, a shift toward proactive protection is necessary. scOS is an AI-powered home security operating system that monitors your property boundary in real-time. Unlike DIY cameras that alert you after a window is broken, scOS detects threats before they reach your home. By using autonomous responses—such as activating high-intensity lighting or audible warnings—scOS destroys the element of surprise that burglars and vandals rely on. In an area where criminal damage is a significant factor, having a system that never blinks and can identify suspicious patterns provides a level of security that traditional recording simply cannot match. Proactive detection is the most effective way to prevent crime before it happens.