Preston Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

October 2025 marked a continuation of elevated crime levels in Preston, with the overall rate standing at 11.9 per 1,000 residents—54.5% above the UK average. This figure, though not unprecedented for the area, reflects a persistent challenge for local authorities. The most prevalent crimes were anti-social behaviour (34.9% of all incidents) and violence and sexual offences (29.4%), both of which significantly outpaced UK averages. Anti-social behaviour, in particular, saw a sharp rise, with 676 incidents reported—233% above the national rate. This category's dominance may be linked to the area's urban character, where high-density housing and commercial activity often intersect. Violence and sexual offences, though slightly lower than anti-social behaviour, still represented a worrying 3.5 per 1,000 residents, 32% above the UK average. Seasonal factors likely played a role in these trends: the clocks going back in early October extended evening darkness, potentially increasing opportunities for anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Halloween activities may have also contributed to spikes in disturbances. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson (6.6% of total crimes) and burglary (3.6%) remained elevated, with both categories exceeding UK averages by over 40%. These property-related crimes may be tied to the area's mix of residential and commercial spaces, which can create vulnerabilities for opportunistic offenders. The data also highlights a paradox: while shoplifting decreased by 35.4% from September, it remained 21% below the UK average, suggesting that local retail security measures may be effective in deterring such crimes. This contrast underscores the complexity of crime patterns, where certain categories are influenced by targeted interventions while others persist due to broader social or environmental factors.

October saw a stark rise in anti-social behaviour, with 676 incidents reported—36.8% higher than September. This category alone accounted for 34.9% of all crimes, far exceeding the UK average of 233%. The increase aligns with seasonal factors, as darker evenings and Halloween activities may have contributed to heightened disturbances. Concurrently, drug-related crimes surged by 42.5%, from 40 to 57 incidents, a trend that could reflect shifts in illicit activity patterns. In contrast, vehicle crime fell by 42.7% to 55 incidents, likely due to reduced daylight hours deterring opportunistic thefts. Shoplifting also declined by 35.4%, with 82 incidents reported, marking a notable drop from 127 in September. This decrease may be attributed to increased retail security measures during the busy holiday season. The data also reveals that vehicle crime in Preston is 29% below the UK average, a rare positive deviation in an otherwise elevated crime profile.

Preston's crime rate rose to 11.9 per 1,000 residents in October 2025, a 7.0% increase from 11.1 per 1,000 in September. This places the area significantly above the UK average, which stood at 7.7 per 1,000. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 62 crimes each day—a figure that underscores the persistent demand on local policing resources. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 84 residents, a ratio that, while not uncommon in urban centres, highlights the scale of activity relative to the population of 162,864. This monthly exposure is higher than the UK average, which would typically see one crime per roughly 130 residents. The shift from September to October aligns with seasonal patterns, as shorter evenings and the approach of Halloween may contribute to increased anti-social behaviour and public order incidents. However, the daily crime count remains consistent with previous months, suggesting that the rise is not an isolated spike but part of a broader trend.