Crime in Pendle: statistics, rates and trends

9,393 crimes were recorded in Pendle in the 12 months to July 2026, 94.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,673 reports (39% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Pendle has the 117th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Pendle was highest in the year to July 2021 (12,564 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (9,291). Over the whole period it fell 14%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Pendle over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for anti-social behaviour.

The largest increases were in drugs (+60%) and theft from the person (+20%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-44%) and anti-social behaviour (-32%).

Violence and sexual offences in Pendle

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Pendle recorded 3,673 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 39.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Pendle

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Pendle recorded 2,161 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 23.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Pendle

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Pendle recorded 709 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Pendle

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Pendle recorded 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Pendle

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Pendle recorded 497 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Pendle

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Pendle recorded 417 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Pendle

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Pendle recorded 398 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Pendle

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Pendle recorded 302 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Pendle

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Pendle recorded 251 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Pendle

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Pendle recorded 243 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Pendle

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Pendle recorded 117 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Pendle

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Pendle recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Pendle

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Pendle recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Pendle

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Pendle recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Pendle, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Pendle.

22 areas within Pendle, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Vivary Bridge had the highest rate (151.2 per 1,000) and Trawden the lowest (33.3). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Pendle over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Pendle over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Pendle has an estimated population of 99,777. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Pendle sits in decile 3.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Pendle. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.