Crime in South Ribble: statistics, rates and trends

9,072 crimes were recorded in South Ribble in the 12 months to July 2026, 78.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than 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 3,426 reports (38% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, South Ribble has the 194th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in South Ribble was highest in the year to July 2021 (10,746 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (9,072). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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 South Ribble 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. The largest increases were in robbery (+29%) and drugs (+24%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-30%) and burglary (-25%).

Violence and sexual offences in South Ribble

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. South Ribble recorded 3,426 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 37.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in South Ribble

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. South Ribble recorded 2,205 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 24.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in South Ribble

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. South Ribble recorded 717 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in South Ribble

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. South Ribble recorded 659 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in South Ribble

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. South Ribble recorded 530 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in South Ribble

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. South Ribble recorded 434 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in South Ribble

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. South Ribble recorded 273 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in South Ribble

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. South Ribble recorded 243 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in South Ribble

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. South Ribble recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in South Ribble

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. South Ribble recorded 163 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in South Ribble

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. South Ribble recorded 86 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in South Ribble

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. South Ribble recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in South Ribble

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. South Ribble recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in South Ribble

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. South Ribble recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

32 areas within South Ribble, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. St Ambrose had the highest rate (150.0 per 1,000) and Longton & Hutton West the lowest (27.2). 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 South Ribble over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in South Ribble 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.

South Ribble has an estimated population of 116,113. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in South Ribble sits in decile 7.0, less 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 South Ribble. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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