Garstang Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Garstang's overall crime rate in January 2026 stood at 2.7 per 1,000 residents, a figure 60.3% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This marked safety profile reflects a combination of seasonal factors and local characteristics. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 33.3% of all crimes, followed by shoplifting (27.8%) and anti-social behaviour (16.7%). The low crime rate aligns with the area's status as a largely rural built-up area within Wyre, where limited retail presence and lower population density likely contribute to reduced opportunities for certain crime types. January's post-holiday period saw reduced footfall in commercial areas, which may have limited shoplifting incidents compared to busier months. However, the seasonal context of shorter days and colder weather could have increased indoor activity, influencing the distribution of crime types. The rate of violence and sexual offences, at 0.9 per 1,000, was 64% below the UK average, suggesting strong community cohesion and effective local policing. Shoplifting, while still below the UK average for most categories, showed a 40% increase compared to national benchmarks, linked to the area's limited retail infrastructure and fewer dedicated security measures in small businesses. The overall crime profile illustrates a balance between geographic factors and seasonal dynamics, with no single cause dominating the data.

January 2026 saw significant reductions in violent crime and anti-social behaviour, with violence and sexual offences falling by 53.8% compared to December. Anti-social behaviour incidents dropped by 76.9%, from 13 to 3, reflecting a marked improvement in community conduct. These decreases align with the post-holiday period and reduced retail activity, which may have limited opportunities for confrontations and disorder. Shoplifting, however, showed a 37.5% decrease from 8 to 5 incidents, suggesting improved security measures or seasonal reductions in retail footfall. Other theft and other crime categories both increased by 100% compared to December, with one incident each in these categories. This rise in less common crime types may indicate sporadic occurrences rather than systemic trends, though further analysis would be needed to confirm patterns. The violence and sexual offences rate of 0.9 per 1,000 was 64% below the UK average, highlighting Garstang's relative safety in this category. Conversely, shoplifting's 0.8 per 1,000 rate was 40% above the UK average of 0.6, underscoring a specific area for targeted intervention. These contrasting trends illustrate the complexity of local crime dynamics, where some categories benefit from geographic factors while others may require tailored policing strategies.

Garstang's January 2026 crime rate of 2.7 per 1,000 residents marked a 53.8% decrease from the previous month's rate of 5.9 per 1,000. This sharp decline aligns with the typical seasonal pattern of reduced activity during winter months, particularly in a built-up area with limited commercial density. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly 1 crime per day in January, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure of 1 reported crime for every 365 residents. This low frequency suggests that residents face minimal risk compared to larger urban centres, where daily crime rates often exceed 10 per 1,000. When considering the population of 6,573, the 18 total crimes reported represent a very small proportion of the community, reinforcing the area's status as relatively safe. The previous month's significantly higher rate of 5.9 per 1,000 may have been influenced by transient factors such as temporary events or weather-related disruptions, which appear to have subsided by January. The contrast between January's low crime rate and the previous month's higher figures highlights the volatility of monthly data, while the consistent UK comparison of 60.3% below the national average demonstrates Garstang's enduring safety profile. For residents, this means that while occasional incidents may occur, the overall risk remains exceptionally low compared to both regional and national benchmarks.