Bolton-le-Sands Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

February 2026 marked an unexpected surge in criminal damage and arson, a category that rose from 1 to 3 incidents—a 200% increase—despite the month's typically low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull. This anomaly contrasts with the area's overall crime rate of 1.5 per 1,000 residents, which remains 76.6% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences (4 incidents, 36.4% of total crimes) and other theft (2 incidents, 18.2%) were the most common categories, though both fell significantly below UK averages. The built-up nature of Bolton-le-Sands, situated within Lancaster, likely contributes to its low crime profile, with limited opportunities for certain crimes such as vehicle theft. However, the rise in arson suggests a possible link to seasonal factors, such as colder weather increasing the use of open flames or unsecured properties. The month's low overall crime rate aligns with the area's character as a smaller, possibly more cohesive community, though the spike in criminal damage and arson highlights the need for targeted local awareness. Seasonal patterns typically see a reduction in crimes during winter due to shorter daylight hours and reduced outdoor activity, yet the specific increase in arson defies this trend, raising questions about local triggers. The UK-wide context further emphasizes Bolton-le-Sands' safety, with its crime rate placing it among the lowest in the country for this period.

The most striking shift in February 2026 was the 200% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from 1 to 3 incidents. This category, which accounted for 27.3% of total crimes, remained 13% below the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000. Meanwhile, drugs-related crimes doubled from 0 to 1, and vehicle crime also doubled to 1, both categories falling well below their respective UK averages (0.2 and 0.3 per 1,000). In contrast, other theft decreased by 33.3% (from 3 to 2), and violence and sexual offences dropped by 20% (from 5 to 4), the latter category itself 74% below the UK average. The balance between property and violent crimes shifted slightly, with property crimes (6) outpacing violent crimes (4) by 50%. For residents, the notable absence of vehicle crime—despite the area's proximity to major roads—suggests effective local measures or low exposure to targeted theft in this category.

Bolton-le-Sands' crime rate in February 2026 fell to 1.5 per 1,000 residents, a 42.1% decrease from the previous month's rate of 2.6 per 1,000. This decline places the area far below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, with the gap widening to 76.6% below. Daily crime statistics show an average of 0 crimes per day across the 28-day month, a figure that, while low, reflects the area's consistently sparse reporting. Over the course of February, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 667 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the rarity of incidents in this built-up area. When scaled to the local population of 7,334, this suggests that most residents would not encounter crime during the month, though the small absolute number of crimes means even minor shifts can feel significant to those affected. The low daily and monthly exposure figures contrast with the UK-wide context, where crime is more frequent, though local factors such as community engagement or environmental design may contribute to this disparity.