Poulton-le-Fylde Crime Rate March 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Poulton-le-Fylde’s crime picture in March 2024, accounting for nearly half of all reported crimes. At 34 incidents, this category was 12% above the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, a notable outlier in an otherwise safer-than-average area. The overall crime rate of 6.2 per 1,000 residents placed the town 19.5% below the UK average of 7.7, reflecting a combination of low property crime rates and effective local policing. Anti-social behaviour (12 cases) and criminal damage (6 cases) formed the next most common categories, both below UK averages. The seasonal transition to spring may have influenced patterns, with longer evenings potentially affecting outdoor activity and visibility. Property crimes, at 16 incidents, were relatively low compared to the 34 violent crimes reported, suggesting a community where personal safety concerns outweighed theft from homes or vehicles. The town’s built-up character, likely influenced by its coastal proximity and small-scale retail presence, appears to drive fewer shoplifting incidents than the UK average, though this remains a point for further analysis. Overall, March 2024 illustrates a town where violent crime remains a focal concern, despite a broader trend of lower crime rates compared to the national picture.

March 2024 saw a 50% increase in drug-related crimes, rising from 2 to 3 incidents—a sharp uptick that may reflect seasonal shifts or targeted enforcement efforts. Anti-social behaviour also rose by 33.3%, with cases increasing from 9 to 12, potentially linked to longer evenings and increased social activity. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 50% (from 2 to 1), aligning with the town’s lower-than-average retail crime rates. Public order offences, meanwhile, dropped by 50% (from 4 to 2), due to reduced alcohol-related incidents during the transition to spring. The crime mix shifted with violent crimes (48.6% of total) far outpacing property crimes (22.9%), a contrast to the UK average where property crime typically dominates. This imbalance may reflect Poulton-le-Fylde’s demographic profile, where community interactions and local conflicts contribute to higher violence rates. Residents should note the 12% surplus in violence and sexual offences compared to the UK average, a figure that warrants attention for local safety initiatives.

Poulton-le-Fylde’s crime rate remained stable between February and March 2024, with a 1.5% increase from 6.1 to 6.2 per 1,000 residents—a negligible shift suggesting consistent policing or community dynamics. On a daily basis, the town experienced approximately 2 crimes per day in March, a figure that may seem high for some but is contextualised by the area’s smaller population of 11,233. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 160 residents, a monthly exposure rate that places the town among the safer communities in the UK. When scaled to the local population, this translates to a crime environment where most residents are unlikely to encounter direct victimisation. The previous month’s rate (6.1) was nearly identical, reinforcing the stability of recent trends. While the town’s crime profile differs from the UK average—particularly in violent crime rates—it remains a microcosm of how local factors, such as community size and seasonal activity, shape crime patterns distinct from national statistics.