Preston (Preston) Crime Rate

Preston (Preston) currently records an overall crime rate of 186.9 per 1,000 residents, a figure that stands significantly above the UK average of 91.6. Despite this higher volume of reported incidents, the area maintains a safety score of 60/100, reflecting a complex criminal landscape where many reports are concentrated in specific urban hubs. The recent trend direction for the area is classified as stable, with a minor year-over-year decrease of 2.7%. This suggests that while crime levels are elevated compared to national benchmarks, they are not currently in a state of rapid escalation. This data, covering the period from January 2025 to December 2025, provides a comprehensive overview for those living in or considering moving to the heart of Preston.

In Preston (Preston), the criminal landscape is primarily shaped by three major categories: anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences, and shoplifting. Anti-social behaviour is the most frequent report, accounting for 5,417 incidents (31.3% of all crime), followed closely by violence and sexual offences at 5,129 cases (29.6%). Shoplifting also represents a significant portion of local activity with 1,198 recorded offences.

Property-related crime in Preston (Preston) is a substantial concern for residents, with an overall property crime rate of 51.5 per 1,000 people. This encompasses a broad range of offences including 1,143 instances of criminal damage and arson, 876 cases of other theft, 635 vehicle crimes, and 480 burglaries. Additionally, 183 robberies and 180 bicycle thefts were recorded. For homeowners and residents, this indicates that while personal safety is a priority, the volume of theft and criminal damage necessitates robust preventative measures to protect physical assets and dwellings.

The crime trend in Preston (Preston) is currently stable, with a year-over-year decrease of 2.7%. Analysis of the monthly data from 2025 shows a relatively consistent level of activity, with the crime rate per 1,000 people hovering between 13.2 and 17.8. The lowest point of the year was recorded in February (13.2), followed by a sharp increase in March (16.8).

A significant peak occurred in May, reaching the annual high of 17.8 per 1,000. This was followed by a sustained period of higher activity throughout the summer months, with July recording 17.4 and August 16.0. The latter part of the year saw a gradual decline, with November dipping to 13.8 before a slight seasonal rise in December to 14.4. For residents, this stability suggests that while crime remains a present factor, there is no evidence of a worsening safety environment, though the summer months clearly require heightened vigilance.

How To Keep Safe in Preston (Preston)

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is the most prevalent issue in Preston (Preston), accounting for over 31% of all reported incidents. While often considered a nuisance crime, it can significantly impact quality of life and escalate if not addressed.

To stay safe and mitigate the impact of ASB, consider these practical steps:

• Report all incidents of persistent nuisance or harassment to the local neighbourhood policing team; consistent reporting helps authorities allocate resources to specific hotspots.
• Ensure your property has clear boundaries and visible deterrents; well-maintained gardens and clear signage can discourage individuals from loitering near your home.
• Join or establish a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme to foster community resilience and ensure that suspicious activity is shared quickly among neighbours.
• If you encounter ASB in public spaces, avoid direct confrontation; instead, move to a well-lit, populated area and report the incident when it is safe to do so.
• Install motion-activated lighting around the perimeter of your home to eliminate dark spots where groups might gather.

In Preston (Preston), crime follows distinct temporal patterns. During the morning hours (6am - 12pm), theft-related offences are prominent, accounting for 41% of incidents as retail and commercial activities begin. This trend continues into the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), where theft remains the leading crime type at 44%. As the day transitions into the evening (6pm - 12am), 'other' crimes, which include anti-social behaviour, become dominant, making up 54% of reports. The night-time period (12am - 6am) sees a significant shift toward vehicle crime, which rises to 37% of all incidents. Burglary remains a consistent threat throughout the day but peaks slightly in the night and afternoon periods. These patterns suggest that while daytime crime is largely commercial and opportunistic, night-time crime is more focused on vehicles and residential vulnerabilities.

When comparing Preston (Preston) to its surrounding areas, there is a notable disparity in crime frequency. Fulwood, located to the north, reports a significantly lower rate of 88.7 crimes per 1,000 people. To the south, Penwortham is even quieter with a rate of 56.9, and Bamber Bridge sits at 102.2. Even Broughton (Preston), which has seen its own increases, remains lower at 121.4. Central Preston acts as a major regional hub for transport, retail, and nightlife, which naturally draws higher incident counts than these more residential or suburban neighbours. Understanding this regional context is vital; the core urban area of Preston experiences the typical pressures of a busy city centre, while the peripheral settlements offer a much lower crime profile.

With a property crime rate of 51.5 per 1,000 people in Preston (Preston), traditional security measures may no longer be sufficient. Standard CCTV and doorbell cameras are fundamentally reactive; they provide you with high-definition footage of a crime that has already occurred. To truly protect your home in an area with an elevated crime rate, a shift toward proactive prevention is necessary.

The scOS AI-powered operating system represents this shift. By using multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your entire property boundary simultaneously. It doesn't just record; it identifies threats—such as an unknown person lingering at a side gate—and intervenes before a break-in happens. Features like autonomous lighting activation and speaker engagement destroy the element of surprise that burglars rely on. In an urban environment like Preston, where vehicle crime and burglary are persistent risks, having a system that distinguishes between a delivery driver and a genuine threat ensures that your security is both intelligent and effective. Proactive protection means stopping the crime at the boundary, not reviewing the loss the next morning.