Colne Crime Rate

Colne records an overall crime rate of 147.2 per 1,000 people per year, which is significantly higher than the UK national average of 93.1. This results in a safety score of 68/100, placing it below the national average safety benchmark of 78. Despite these figures, the crime trend in Colne is currently stable, showing only a minor 2.2% increase over the last 12 months. As one of the primary urban and commercial hubs in Pendle, Colne's statistics reflect its role as a centre for retail and nightlife. Understanding these patterns is essential for residents and local businesses. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of specific crime types, monthly variations, and time-based insights.

Crime Breakdown in Colne

Colne experiences a high volume of crime relative to its size, with violence and sexual offences (32.5%) and anti-social behaviour (32.4%) being almost equally prevalent. Criminal damage and arson follow as the third most significant type at 8.6%. For residents and property owners, the property crime rate is a critical concern. In Colne, the overall property crime rate—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, theft, and shoplifting—is 37.2 per 1,000 people. This is higher than the UK average of 32.9, indicating a greater risk of property-related offences in the area. Shoplifting is particularly high at 6.4% of total crime, while burglary accounts for 3.1%. This data suggests that while violent crime is frequent, the threat to homes and businesses from theft and damage is a significant local issue that requires robust security measures.

Crime Trends in Colne

The crime rate in Colne has remained stable over the past year, with a minor 2.2% increase in total reported offences. Monthly data reveals a consistent level of activity with some seasonal peaks. The highest crime rates were recorded in July 2025 at 14.8 per 1,000 residents, with May and August 2025 also seeing high rates of 14.5 and 14.3 respectively. The lowest rate occurred in February 2025 at 10.9. This pattern suggests a slight increase in crime during the summer months, which is typical for many urban areas. The overall stability of the trend indicates that local safety measures are maintaining a consistent environment, despite the high overall volume of incidents.

How To Keep Safe in Colne

The most common crimes in Colne are violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, and criminal damage. Staying safe in this busy town requires a combination of personal awareness and proactive property security.

1. Vigilance in the Town Centre: When in the town centre, especially during the evening, stay in well-lit areas and be aware of your surroundings to avoid anti-social behaviour.
2. Secure Your Shop or Business: With shoplifting being a significant factor, businesses should employ active monitoring and visible security measures to deter opportunistic theft.
3. Vehicle Security: Always park in secure, well-lit areas and ensure no valuables are left on display in your car, as vehicle crime is a persistent local issue.
4. Property Protection: Use motion-activated lighting and high-quality locks on all entry points to discourage criminal damage and loitering around your home.
5. Community Engagement: Join local Neighbourhood Watch schemes or community groups to stay informed about recent incidents and share safety tips with your neighbours.

Crime in Colne follows a distinct temporal pattern. Shoplifting and theft are most prevalent during the day, accounting for 35% of morning crimes and 39% of afternoon incidents, reflecting the town's busy retail environment. As the day transitions into evening and night, the nature of crime shifts. Anti-social behaviour and other offences become more prominent in the evening, while the relative percentage of burglary and vehicle crime peaks during the night-time hours (12am - 6am), with burglary reaching 22% and vehicle crime 28%. These patterns indicate that while daytime requires focus on retail and opportunistic theft, the night-time hours are when residential properties and vehicles are most at risk.

Within the local region, Colne has the highest crime rate among its immediate neighbours. At 147.2 per 1,000, it is more active than Nelson (125.7) and significantly higher than the more residential Barrowford (67.9). It also contrasts sharply with the nearby rural villages of Foulridge (43.2) and Trawden (37.0). This comparison highlights Colne's position as a major regional centre, where higher footfall and commercial activity naturally lead to more reported incidents than in the surrounding smaller settlements and rural areas.

With a property crime rate of 37.2 per 1,000, Colne residents face a higher-than-average risk of theft and damage. Traditional security systems, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, are reactive—they only provide footage of a crime after it has occurred. scOS offers a proactive AI-powered operating system that focuses on preventing the crime entirely. By monitoring all your camera feeds simultaneously, scOS uses advanced AI to detect genuine threats at the property line. Most burglars decide whether to target a home in under 60 seconds; scOS destroys this opportunity by activating autonomous responses like lights and audio alerts the moment an intruder is detected. For those in Colne, moving from reactive recording to proactive prevention is the most effective way to protect their homes and businesses against the local property crime challenges.