Crime in Penrith South: statistics, rates and trends
1,212 crimes were recorded in Penrith South in the 12 months to August 2026, 117.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Penrith South at a glance
- Crime trends in Penrith South
- Types of crime in Penrith South
- Penrith South compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Penrith South
- What happened after crimes were reported in Penrith South
- Demographics of Penrith South
- Questions about crime in Penrith South
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (553), shoplifting (171) and public order (135) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 870th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Penrith South | Westmorland and Furness | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,212 | 16,568 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 117.0 | 72.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 10,362 | 230,185 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Penrith South peaked in the year to August 2024 (1,440 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (1,019). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 19%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,212 | 117.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,311 | 126.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,440 | 139.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,395 | 134.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,420 | 137.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,067 | 103.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,144 | 110.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,166 | 112.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,019 | 98.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 101 |
| July 2026 | 96 |
| June 2026 | 115 |
| May 2026 | 110 |
| April 2026 | 99 |
| March 2026 | 113 |
| February 2026 | 100 |
| January 2026 | 84 |
| December 2025 | 98 |
| November 2025 | 108 |
| October 2025 | 101 |
| September 2025 | 87 |
Compared with England and Wales, Penrith South recorded notably more public order (2.0 times the national rate), shoplifting (2.0 times the national rate) and drugs (95% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (68% below) and burglary (38% below). On the year before, public order rose from 106 to 135, while anti-social behaviour fell from 105 to 51 and drugs fell from 88 to 66.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 553 | 53.4 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 171 | 16.5 | 8.5 | -16% |
| Public order | 135 | 13.0 | 6.7 | +27% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 83 | 8.0 | 6.7 | -24% |
| Drugs | 66 | 6.4 | 3.3 | -25% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 51 | 4.9 | 15.4 | -51% |
| Other theft | 51 | 4.9 | 6.4 | 0% |
| Other crime | 32 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 0% |
| Burglary | 23 | 2.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 1.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 13 | 1.3 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 1.0 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Penrith South has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Penrith South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penrith North | 371 | 47.9 | -59% |
| Eamont and Shap | 217 | 51.8 | -56% |
| Greystoke and Ullswater | 184 | 42.6 | -64% |
| Hesket and Lazonby | 231 | 37.1 | -68% |
| Eden and Lyvennet Vale | 244 | 43.0 | -63% |
| Alston and Fellside | 262 | 39.7 | -66% |
| Appleby and Brough | 349 | 49.3 | -58% |
| Kirkby Stephen and Tebay | 287 | 71.8 | -39% |
The 10 locations below account for 36% of the crime recorded in Penrith South over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (62).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 62 |
| On or near Myers Lane | 59 |
| On or near Market Court | 57 |
| On or near Supermarket | 53 |
| On or near Little Dockray | 42 |
| On or near Brewery Lane | 39 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 34 |
| On or near Carleton Road | 32 |
| On or near Two Lions Square | 29 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 25 |
Of the 1,161 crimes in Penrith South with a recorded outcome, 19% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 8.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 51 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 396 | 34.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 222 | 19.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 166 | 14.3% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 103 | 8.9% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 99 | 8.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 60 | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 55 | 4.7% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 18 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 17 | 1.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 0.9% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Penrith South has an estimated population of 10,362 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (3.9%, against 7.9%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Penrith South average decile 6.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Penrith South | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 24.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 19.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Penrith South a safe place to live?
Penrith South recorded 117.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 870th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were public order and shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Penrith South?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 553 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (171).
Is crime in Penrith South going up or down?
Recorded crime in Penrith South was down 8% on the year before: 1,212 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,311 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Penrith South?
About 10,362 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Penrith South?
Penrith South is policed by Cumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.