Cottam (Preston) Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Cottam (Preston) recorded a crime rate of 6.7 per 1,000 residents in January 2024, placing it 9.5% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This performance, while consistently below the national benchmark, reflects a mix of crime types that highlight both local patterns and seasonal influences. The most prevalent category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 31.8% of all incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (27.3%) and shoplifting (15.9%). These figures suggest a community grappling with both interpersonal tensions and challenges related to public disorder, though the overall rate remains relatively low. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter days—may partly explain the subdued levels of outdoor crime, though the sharp rise in shoplifting suggests other factors at play. Anti-social behaviour, in particular, stands out as a significant local concern, with rates 82% above the UK average. This divergence from national trends could indicate unique social dynamics within the area, such as community-specific pressures or the impact of local infrastructure. The relatively low rates of vehicle crime (40% below UK average) and burglary (17% below) contrast with the elevated anti-social behaviour, suggesting a combination of factors shaping the crime profile. As a built-up area within Preston, Cottam’s crime profile appears influenced by its position within a larger urban context, where localised issues may emerge independently of broader regional trends.

January 2024 saw a dramatic 600% increase in shoplifting incidents, rising from one to seven. This jump, while unexpected, may reflect post-holiday retail activity or changes in local shopping patterns. Conversely, violence and sexual offences fell by 39.1%, from 23 to 14, a decline that aligns with the area’s typically lower levels of violent crime compared to the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, however, remained a persistent issue, with rates 82% above the UK average. This disparity highlights a local challenge not mirrored nationally. The category of 'other crime' also saw a 100% increase, from zero to one incident, suggesting emerging patterns that warrant further observation. Meanwhile, vehicle crime and burglary both remained below UK averages, with vehicle crime 40% lower and burglary 17% lower. These contrasting trends illustrate the complex nature of crime in Cottam (Preston), where some categories align with national trends while others diverge significantly.

Cottam (Preston) saw a 4.8% increase in its crime rate from 6.4 per 1,000 in December 2023 to 6.7 per 1,000 in January 2024. This rise, though modest, contrasts with the area’s consistent performance relative to the UK average. Over the course of January, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 148 residents—a figure that contextualises the scale of incidents within the local population. Daily crime statistics reveal an average of one crime per day in Cottam (Preston) during January, a rate that aligns with the area’s typically low levels of criminal activity. While the overall rate remains 9.5% below the UK average, the shift in crime types between months warrants attention. The rise in shoplifting, for instance, may reflect post-holiday patterns or seasonal fluctuations in retail footfall. These figures, though small in absolute terms, highlight the nuanced ways in which crime dynamics can shift even within a relatively stable environment.