West Lancashire Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

West Lancashire's crime rate in July 2024 stood at 6.0 per 1,000 residents, significantly lower than the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. This figure, 28.6% below the national benchmark, reflects a consistently safer profile for the area. The most prevalent crime type was anti-social behaviour, accounting for 34% of all reported incidents, followed by violence and sexual offences (30.3%) and criminal damage and arson (8.1%). These patterns align with the area's seasonal context: July, a peak summer month with schools out, tourism at its height, and numerous festivals and outdoor events. The high rate of anti-social behaviour may be partly explained by increased social interactions during the summer, though this remains 38% above the UK average for the category. Conversely, shoplifting, violence, and public order offences were all significantly below national averages. The lower-than-average rates for property crimes such as shoplifting (56% below the UK average) and vehicle crime (57% below) suggest effective local policing or community initiatives. The balance between violent and property crimes in July also shifted compared to other months, with violent crimes making up 30.3% of the total and property crimes 21.9%, a relatively moderate split. Seasonal factors may have influenced this mix, as increased retail activity during the summer could have drawn attention to shoplifting and theft from the person, while the absence of school holidays might have reduced certain types of property crime. Overall, the data illustrates an area where crime remains relatively low but is shaped by local conditions such as tourism and community events.

July 2024 saw a 100% increase in bicycle theft, rising from three to six incidents. This surge, though small in absolute terms, may partly reflect the area's seasonal dynamics — peak summer, festivals, and outdoor events could have led to more unsecured bikes in public spaces. Theft from the person also doubled, with four incidents reported, a stark contrast to zero in June. This spike may relate to increased foot traffic in retail areas during the summer. Conversely, robbery fell by 33.3% (from three to two incidents), due to heightened police presence or seasonal shifts in criminal activity. Public order offences also decreased by 30.6%, aligning with a general trend of reduced alcohol-fuelled incidents during the month. Shoplifting, the most significant month-on-month increase (81% rise to 38 incidents), may be linked to higher retail footfall during July. Anti-social behaviour remains the most common crime type, at 34% of total incidents, but its rate (2.0 per 1,000) is 38% above the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000. This divergence may reflect local social dynamics or policing priorities.

West Lancashire's crime rate in July 2024 rose to 6.0 per 1,000 residents, a 7.3% increase from 5.6 per 1,000 in June. This places the area 28.6% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, a consistent gap maintained despite the month-on-month rise. On a daily basis, the area saw approximately 24 crimes reported each day in July, a figure that reflects local patterns rather than national trends. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 167 residents, a monthly aggregate that contextualises the scale of crime within the population. This rate, though higher than June, remains significantly lower than the UK average, suggesting structural factors such as community policing or local demographics may contribute to the area's distinct profile. The population context also reveals that, despite the 7.3% increase, the overall number of crimes (732) remains proportionally lower than the UK average, which would equate to over 1,000 crimes in a similar-sized area.