Cottam (Preston) Crime Rate March 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Cottam (Preston) during March 2025 reveals a combination of property and violent crime, with property-related offences dominating the profile. At a rate of 7.0 per 1,000, the area’s overall crime rate sits 10.3% below the UK average of 7.8 per 1,000, a figure that underscores the area’s relatively lower exposure to crime compared to national trends. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 26.1% of total incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (21.7%) and burglary (19.6%). This balance suggests a blend of personal safety concerns and community-level issues, such as disturbances linked to local social dynamics. The seasonal transition to spring, with longer evenings and the shift in daylight hours, may have influenced patterns of outdoor activity, potentially contributing to the rise in property crimes. Burglary, at 1.4 per 1,000, was 400% above the UK average, a striking anomaly that could indicate specific vulnerabilities in the area’s housing stock or transient populations. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour, while still significant, decreased slightly from February, reflecting seasonal variations in community engagement or temporary reductions in alcohol-related incidents. The UK comparison for violence and sexual offences—34% below the national rate—suggests that Cottam’s residents may experience lower exposure to violent crime than the average UK resident, though this could be influenced by local policing strategies or demographic characteristics. The overall profile illustrates a built-up area within Preston where property crimes, particularly burglary, remain a pressing concern, even as violent crime remains comparatively low.

March 2025 marked a dramatic shift in Cottam (Preston)’s crime profile, with burglary, criminal damage and arson, and drugs-related offences all doubling from February’s figures. This surge in property crimes—particularly burglary, which rose from zero to nine incidents—contrasts sharply with the UK average, where burglary rates are 0.3 per 1,000. The area’s violent crime category, however, remained below the UK average, with violence and sexual offences at 1.8 per 1,000 (34% below the UK rate). Anti-social behaviour, while still a major concern, decreased by 16.7% compared to the previous month, a decline that may reflect temporary changes in community activity or enforcement efforts. The stark contrast between Cottam’s burglary rate and the UK average suggests a localized factor driving these incidents, though further analysis would be needed to confirm potential causes such as housing stock vulnerabilities or transient population movements.

Cottam (Preston) saw a significant increase in its crime rate from 3.8 per 1,000 in February 2025 to 7.0 per 1,000 in March 2025, marking an 83.8% rise. This shift contrasts with the area’s usual crime profile, suggesting a sudden uptick in reported incidents. On a daily basis, March 2025 averaged one crime per day, a figure that, while seemingly low, reflects the area’s small population of 6,533 residents. Over the course of the month, this translated to one reported crime for roughly every 142 residents—a metric that contextualises the scale of incidents in relation to local demographics. The population-scaled perspective highlights that while the overall rate remains below the UK average, the month-on-month surge may signal emerging patterns, such as seasonal factors or transient spikes in specific crime categories. Residents may find it useful to note that the increase in burglary and criminal damage, both of which rose sharply, could point to localized vulnerabilities that require attention.