Crime in Preston, Brent: statistics, rates and trends
857 crimes were recorded in Preston, Brent in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Preston, Brent at a glance
- Crime trends in Preston, Brent
- Types of crime in Preston, Brent
- Preston, Brent compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Preston, Brent
- What happened after crimes were reported in Preston, Brent
- Population and deprivation in Preston, Brent
- Questions about crime in Preston, Brent
- About this data
857 crimes were recorded in Preston, Brent in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 22% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 266 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Preston, Brent has the 2,071st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Preston, Brent | Brent | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 857 | 43,138 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.8 | 122.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +22% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 11,617 | 352,976 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Preston, Brent was highest in the year to July 2020 (987 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (695). Over the whole period it rose 3%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 857 | 73.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 701 | 60.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 734 | 63.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 695 | 59.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 769 | 66.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 872 | 75.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 987 | 85.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 847 | 72.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 835 | 71.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 81 |
| June 2026 | 61 |
| May 2026 | 71 |
| April 2026 | 72 |
| March 2026 | 60 |
| February 2026 | 74 |
| January 2026 | 64 |
| December 2025 | 63 |
| November 2025 | 62 |
| October 2025 | 108 |
| September 2025 | 73 |
| August 2025 | 68 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Preston, Brent 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 vehicle crime, drugs, theft from the person.
The largest increases were in theft from the person (+70%) and drugs (+49%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-48%) and criminal damage and arson (-14%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 266 | 22.9 | 0.67 | +42% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 200 | 17.2 | 1.12 | +33% |
| Vehicle crime | 72 | 6.2 | 1.26 | +47% |
| Drugs | 67 | 5.8 | 1.76 | +49% |
| Other theft | 66 | 5.7 | 0.89 | +16% |
| Theft from the person | 39 | 3.4 | 1.99 | +70% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 31 | 2.7 | 0.39 | -14% |
| Public order | 30 | 2.6 | 0.39 | -12% |
| Shoplifting | 27 | 2.3 | 0.28 | -48% |
| Burglary | 26 | 2.2 | 0.63 | +8% |
| Robbery | 25 | 2.2 | 1.59 | +19% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.42 | -56% |
| Other crime | 2 | 0.2 | 0.08 | -78% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 0.18 | -60% |
Violence and sexual offences in Preston, Brent
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Preston, Brent recorded 266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 31.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Preston, Brent
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Preston, Brent recorded 200 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 23.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Preston, Brent
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Preston, Brent recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Preston, Brent
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Preston, Brent recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 49% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Preston, Brent
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Preston, Brent recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Preston, Brent
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Preston, Brent recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 70% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Preston, Brent
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Preston, Brent recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Preston, Brent
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Preston, Brent recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Preston, Brent
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Preston, Brent recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Preston, Brent
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Preston, Brent recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Preston, Brent
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Preston, Brent recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Preston, Brent
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Preston, Brent recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Preston, Brent
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Preston, Brent recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 78% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Preston, Brent
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Preston, Brent recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Preston, Brent, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Preston, Brent.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Preston, Brent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenton | 1,909 | 94.1 | +28% |
| Northwick Park | 494 | 45.9 | -38% |
| Wembley Hill | 2,673 | 160.2 | +117% |
| Wembley Park | 2,511 | 162.9 | +121% |
| Barnhill | 1,624 | 165.1 | +124% |
| Sudbury | 1,148 | 74.8 | +1% |
| Wembley Central | 1,913 | 113.6 | +54% |
| Tokyngton | 812 | 77.6 | +5% |
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 Preston, Brent over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Elmstead Avenue | 65 |
| On or near Preston Road | 62 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 62 |
| On or near Hirst Crescent | 60 |
| On or near Supermarket | 55 |
| On or near Courtenay Road | 44 |
| On or near Bowling Green Court | 36 |
| On or near College Road | 29 |
| On or near St Augustine'S Avenue | 23 |
| On or near Pellatt Road | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Preston, Brent 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 254 | 29.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 210 | 24.5% |
| Not recorded | 200 | 23.3% |
| Under investigation | 97 | 11.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 49 | 5.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 20 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 0.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 1 | 0.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Preston, Brent has an estimated population of 11,617. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Preston, Brent sits in decile 4.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Preston, Brent |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 47.9% |
| Social rented homes | 12.3% |
| Private rented homes | 39.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.3 |
Is Preston, Brent a safe place to live?
Preston, Brent recorded 73.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Preston, Brent?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (200).
Is crime in Preston, Brent going up or down?
Recorded crime in Preston, Brent was up 22% on the year before: 857 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 701 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Preston, Brent?
Preston, Brent is policed by Metropolitan Police. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Preston, Brent. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.