Compare

Crime and justice in Preston

District

The north of the North West. 164,498 people in 142 square kilometres.

13 layers about crime and justice for Preston, each at the level its publisher released it, with its own date and source.

Open in map

Crime and ASB by neighbourhood

Police recorded crime and outcomes (data.police.uk) · August 2026

Under 323 or more

Preston’s 87 neighbourhoods range from 0 to 256.

Is Preston safe? What police records show

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Preston at a rate of 126.2 per 1,000 people.

That compares with 92.4 per 1,000 people across North West.

Across England as a whole, the recorded crime rate was 96.3 per 1,000 people.

In August 2026 alone, 1,815 cases of crime and anti-social behaviour were recorded in Preston.

In the 12 months to August 2026, the most common types were violence and sexual offences (7,463), anti-social behaviour (4,477) and other crime (3,396).

A year earlier, the recorded crime rate in Preston was 137.5 per 1,000 people.

Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.

Rates are per resident, so places that many people work in or visit, such as Westminster, the City of London and other city centres, have far higher rates than their residents alone would suggest.

Recorded crime rate

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
126.2 per 1,000
Worked out by Open Index · Aug 2026

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in Preston at a rate of 126.2 per 1,000 people.

That compares with 92.4 per 1,000 people across North West.

Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.

Against North West
37% higher92.4 per 1,000
Recorded crime rate: Preston among every council313 areas from 39.3 per 1,000 to 618.2 per 1,000. The middle area is 85.3 per 1,000. Preston is 126.2 per 1,000.

Crime and anti-social behaviour

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,815
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Crime and anti-social behaviour: Preston among every council313 areas from 19 to 12,917. The middle area is 1,167. Preston is 1,815.

Anti-social behaviour

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
4,477
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Anti-social behaviour: Preston among every council313 areas from 4 to 13,969. The middle area is 2,093. Preston is 4,477.

Burglary

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
598
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Burglary: Preston among every council313 areas from 6 to 6,781. The middle area is 406. Preston is 598.

Criminal damage and arson

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,581
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Criminal damage and arson: Preston among every council313 areas from 6 to 11,365. The middle area is 978. Preston is 1,581.

Drug offences

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
682
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Drug offences: Preston among every council313 areas from 2 to 7,670. The middle area is 369. Preston is 682.

Other crime

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
3,396
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Other crime: Preston among every council313 areas from 22 to 25,019. The middle area is 2,187. Preston is 3,396.

Robbery

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
210
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Robbery: Preston among every council313 areas from 0 to 3,601. The middle area is 101. Preston is 210.

Shoplifting

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
1,405
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Shoplifting: Preston among every council313 areas from 2 to 12,621. The middle area is 1,038. Preston is 1,405.

Theft from the person

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
111
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Theft from the person: Preston among every council313 areas from 0 to 17,267. The middle area is 54. Preston is 111.

Vehicle crime

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
833
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Vehicle crime: Preston among every council313 areas from 2 to 12,181. The middle area is 513. Preston is 833.

Violence and sexual offences

CouncilEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only
7,463
Police.uk · Aug 2026
Violence and sexual offences: Preston among every council313 areas from 49 to 62,950. The middle area is 4,756. Preston is 7,463.

Street-level crime

Map pointEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland only

Published as points, so there is no single figure for Preston. The map shows each one.