Cottam (Preston) Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Cottam (Preston) recorded a crime rate of 7.5 per 1,000 residents in April 2024, placing it 2.6% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This figure reflects a mixed landscape of crime types, with violence and sexual offences (18 cases) and anti-social behaviour (11 cases) dominating the monthly tally. The seasonal context of April—a period marked by Easter and early spring activity—likely contributes to heightened outdoor engagement, which may partly explain the prevalence of public order and anti-social behaviour incidents. Violence and sexual offences, at 2.8 per 1,000, exceed the UK average by 9%, suggesting a local pattern of interpersonal conflict that could be linked to the area’s urban density and community dynamics. Conversely, shoplifting (0.6 per 1,000) and burglary (0.3 per 1,000) remain below UK averages, indicating that retail and residential security measures in Cottam may be more effective than the national average. The data also highlights a regional contrast in anti-social behaviour, with Cottam’s rate (1.7 per 1,000) significantly higher than the UK average (1.2 per 1,000), reflecting the pressures of a built-up area within a larger urban centre like Preston. While the overall crime rate remains stable, the distribution of crime types underscores the need for targeted interventions in areas prone to interpersonal disputes and public order challenges.

The most striking shift in April 2024 was a 500% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from one reported incident in March to six in April. This dramatic rise, though still low in absolute terms, suggests a sudden escalation in deliberate property-related offences that may be linked to seasonal factors or unaddressed local tensions. Violence and sexual offences also rose by 38.5% (from 13 to 18 cases), potentially tied to the Easter holidays and increased foot traffic in public spaces. In contrast, anti-social behaviour fell by 21.4% (from 14 to 11 cases), which could reflect temporary reductions in public gatherings or successful local initiatives addressing nuisance behaviour. Shoplifting remained below the UK average (0.6 vs 0.7 per 1,000), indicating that retail premises in Cottam may have effective security measures. The surge in criminal damage and arson, however, deserves closer attention, as it represents the largest month-on-month swing in the dataset and could signal emerging issues in property crime prevention. Residents may find the 46% shortfall in other theft (0.3 vs 0.6 per 1,000 UK average) reassuring, but the sharp rise in property damage underscores the need for community engagement around vandalism prevention.

April 2024 saw a 19.4% increase in Cottam’s crime rate compared to March, rising from 6.3 to 7.5 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend, though modest in absolute terms, translates to a daily crime rate of approximately two incidents per day across the area’s population of 6,533. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 133 residents, a figure that places Cottam’s monthly exposure slightly below the UK average if extrapolated nationally. However, the local context must be considered: Cottam’s built-up character within Preston likely means higher concentrations of property and public order crimes compared to more rural areas. The 19.4% increase from March appears to stem primarily from the 500% jump in criminal damage and arson and the 38.5% rise in violence, both of which may be influenced by seasonal transitions and the timing of Easter. While the overall rate remains below the UK average, the disparity in specific crime types—such as the 53% above-average rate of criminal damage and arson—highlights regional differences in policing priorities and community vulnerabilities. For residents, the 1-in-133 monthly exposure figure provides a tangible benchmark for understanding the local crime environment, though the sharp spikes in certain categories suggest areas for targeted improvement.