Cottam (Preston) Crime Rate April 2025 | Monthly Statistics

April 2025 in Cottam (Preston) presented a mixed picture of crime trends, with the overall rate of 7.0 per 1,000 residents placing the area 9.1% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. The most prevalent crime type was anti-social behaviour, accounting for 43.5% of all reported incidents (20 cases), followed by violence and sexual offences (16 cases, 34.8%) and criminal damage and arson (3 cases, 6.5%). These figures align with the area’s characteristics as a built-up part of Preston, where public spaces and proximity to urban amenities may contribute to higher rates of anti-social behaviour. Seasonal factors, such as the Easter period and increased outdoor activity during spring, likely influenced these patterns, with anti-social behaviour surging by 100% compared to March. While the UK average for anti-social behaviour is 1.3 per 1,000, the area’s rate of 3.1 per 1,000 indicates a significant localised challenge. Violence and sexual offences, however, remained slightly below the UK average, suggesting effective policing or community initiatives in this category. The lower rates of vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) and shoplifting (0.2 per 1,000) compared to the UK averages (0.4 and 0.7 per 1,000 respectively) may reflect the area’s limited retail presence or strong community oversight. These trends underscore the importance of contextual factors in shaping crime profiles, with built-up areas often facing distinct challenges compared to more rural or suburban counterparts.

April 2025 marked a dramatic shift in anti-social behaviour, which surged by 100% (from 10 to 20 incidents) — the most significant month-on-month change. This spike, coupled with a 100% increase in vehicle crime (from 0 to 1) and a 50% rise in other theft, highlights a growing challenge in managing public disorder. Conversely, public order offences fell by 80% (from 5 to 1), suggesting a possible reduction in alcohol-related incidents during the Easter period. Anti-social behaviour in the area is 133% above the UK average (3.1 vs 1.3 per 1,000), a stark contrast to the 4% below UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.5 vs 2.6 per 1,000). These disparities illustrate a combination of local factors, such as the built-up area’s proximity to retail hubs and community spaces. Residents may find the 100% increase in anti-social behaviour particularly concerning, as it outpaces the UK average by over a third and could indicate pressure points in local policing or community engagement.

April 2025 saw a crime rate of 7.0 per 1,000 residents in Cottam (Preston), matching the rate recorded in March 2025 (7.0 per 1,000). This stability contrasts with broader seasonal trends, as Easter and spring activity typically influence local crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the built-up nature of the area and its proximity to Preston’s urban core. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 142 residents, a ratio that contextualises the scale of incidents against the local population of 6,533. While this monthly exposure is lower than the UK average for similar areas, it underscores the need for ongoing community vigilance. The population-scaled perspective reveals that most residents are not directly affected, but the concentration of anti-social behaviour and violence in specific pockets of the area suggests targeted interventions could be effective. These figures, when viewed against the broader context of a mixed-use built-up area, indicate that crime remains a manageable but persistent challenge in Cottam (Preston).