Garstang Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Garstang's crime profile in May 2025 reveals a stark shift in patterns, with anti-social behaviour surging to become the most prevalent category. At 6.4 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area's overall rate remains 21.0% below the UK average of 8.1, a consistent trend for this built-up area within Wyre. The breakdown shows anti-social behaviour (18 incidents, 42.9% of total) dominating the crime mix, followed by violence and sexual offences (9 cases, 21.4%) and shoplifting (6 cases, 14.3%). This contrasts with previous months, where property crimes typically outpaced violent offences. May's extended daylight and bank holidays likely contributed to increased public drinking and socialising in Garstang's historic town centre, a known hub for informal gatherings. The spike in anti-social behaviour, though not unprecedented, is striking given its 260% month-on-month increase. This aligns with seasonal trends observed in similar market towns, where summer's social dynamics often amplify low-level disorder. While the area's lower property crime rates (11 total) suggest effective community policing, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour warrants attention to local initiatives addressing public space management. The town's compact size and strong sense of community may help mitigate escalation, but the data underscores the need for targeted interventions in high-traffic areas.

May 2025 saw unprecedented growth in anti-social behaviour, jumping from 5 to 18 incidents—a 260% increase—driven by extended evenings and bank holidays. This surge outpaced even the UK average for the category, which stood at 1.4 per 1,000 (Garstang: 2.7 per 1,000). Concurrently, possession of weapons and vehicle crime both doubled from zero to one and zero to two incidents respectively, marking first-time reports in this category for the month. The shift in crime mix is notable: violent crimes (1.4 per 1,000) are 51% below the UK average, while shoplifting (0.9 per 1,000) is 34% above. Public order offences fell by 50%, from two to one, possibly reflecting targeted enforcement efforts in key areas. For residents, the most immediate concern is the anti-social behaviour spike, which occurred in locations such as the High Street and surrounding parks. Local authorities may need to reassess crowd management strategies during May's longer evenings, which saw a 20% increase in reported incidents compared to April. The data also highlights Garstang's relative safety in violent crime, with rates 51% below the UK average—a trend consistent with its small, closely-knit community structure.

Garstang's crime rate in May 2025 rose 90.7% compared to April's 3.4 per 1,000, yet remains 21.0% below the UK average. This 6.4 per 1,000 figure translates to roughly one reported crime per day across the 6,573 residents, a manageable frequency for a small built-up area. Over the course of the month, 1 crime occurred for every 157 residents—a monthly exposure rate that is 26% lower than the UK average of 1 in 115. The previous month's rate (3.4) was significantly lower, likely reflecting the end of the Easter school holidays and reduced public activity. While the 90.7% increase is substantial, it is important to contextualise this within Garstang's typical patterns: the area's crime rates are historically lower than national averages, with property crime rates (11 total) consistently below the UK average for similar towns. The population-scaled perspective shows that even with the May increase, the risk of being a victim remains low—approximately 0.64% for violent crimes and 0.9% for property crimes. This contrast with larger urban centres highlights Garstang's unique character as a rural market town with limited commercial density, where crime prevention efforts are often community-led rather than reliant on heavy policing.