Crime in Bolton-le-Sands: statistics, rates and trends

264 crimes were recorded in Bolton-le-Sands in the 12 months to July 2026, 36.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.

264 crimes were recorded in Bolton-le-Sands in the 12 months to July 2026, 36.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 117 reports (44% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bolton-le-Sands has the 1,342nd highest crime rate.

MeasureBolton-le-SandsLancasterEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 202626414,2385,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents36.798.296.4
Change on previous 12 months+1%-9%-1%
Population7,185145,00658,797,018

Recorded crime in Bolton-le-Sands was highest in the year to July 2020 (398 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (195). Over the whole period it fell 23%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 202626436.796.4
Year to July 202526236.597.1
Year to July 202420929.197.7
Year to July 202319527.15.2
Year to July 202230542.4101.3
Year to July 202135349.1102.1
Year to July 202039855.4101.9
Year to July 201934347.7101.5
Year to July 201834447.9100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 202635
June 202623
May 202626
April 202611
March 202611
February 202611
January 202619
December 202516
November 202531
October 202521
September 202532
August 202528

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bolton-le-Sands 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 violence and sexual offences (+16%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-47%) and criminal damage and arson (-30%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences11716.30.48+16%
Anti-social behaviour395.40.35-47%
Burglary223.10.87+120%
Other theft192.60.41+12%
Vehicle crime182.50.51+200%
Criminal damage and arson141.90.29-30%
Other crime101.40.66+43%
Public order101.40.21+43%
Drugs81.10.34+100%
Possession of weapons30.40.43+50%
Shoplifting30.40.05-70%
Bicycle theft10.10.17-50%

Violence and sexual offences in Bolton-le-Sands

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 117 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 44.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Bolton-le-Sands

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 14.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Bolton-le-Sands

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 120% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Bolton-le-Sands

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Bolton-le-Sands

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Bolton-le-Sands

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Bolton-le-Sands

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Bolton-le-Sands

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Bolton-le-Sands

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Bolton-le-Sands

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Bolton-le-Sands

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 70% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Bolton-le-Sands

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bolton-le-Sands recorded 1 report 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 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Bolton-le-Sands, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bolton-le-Sands.

TownCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Bolton-le-Sands
Carnforth39271.1+94%
Morecambe4,629144.5+293%
Lancaster5,628116.7+218%
Heysham1,20681.3+121%
Bailrigg13325.9-29%
Garstang36753.9+47%
Ulverston76773.2+99%
Fleetwood3,066122.8+234%

1 areas within Bolton-le-Sands, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bolton & Slyne had the highest rate (36.7 per 1,000) and Bolton & Slyne the lowest (36.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

AreaTypePopulationCrimesPer 1,000
Bolton & SlyneNeighbourhood7,18526436.7

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 Bolton-le-Sands over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Bottomdale Road16
On or near The Green13
On or near Manor Drive11
On or near Church Brow Close10
On or near Main Road9
On or near Greenwood Avenue8
On or near Manor Avenue8
On or near Manor Lane8
On or near Packet Lane7
On or near Brookfield Close6

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bolton-le-Sands 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Unable to prosecute suspect8833.3%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified5822.0%
Not recorded3914.8%
Under investigation3011.4%
Local resolution269.8%
Status update unavailable93.4%
Awaiting court outcome72.7%
Offender given a caution20.8%
Action to be taken by another organisation20.8%
Further action is not in the public interest10.4%
Further investigation is not in the public interest10.4%
Court result unavailable10.4%

Bolton-le-Sands has an estimated population of 7,185. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bolton-le-Sands sits in decile 8.4, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureBolton-le-Sands
Aged 0 to 1513.6%
Aged 16 to 6452.5%
Aged 65 and over34.0%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage89.0%
Social rented homes2.6%
Private rented homes8.4%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)8.4

Is Bolton-le-Sands a safe place to live?

Bolton-le-Sands recorded 36.7 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 Bolton-le-Sands?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 117 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (39).

Is crime in Bolton-le-Sands going up or down?

Recorded crime in Bolton-le-Sands was almost unchanged on the year before: 264 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 262 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Bolton-le-Sands?

Bolton-le-Sands is policed by Lancashire. 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 Bolton-le-Sands. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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

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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/towns/bolton-le-sands">https://policestatistics.co.uk/towns/bolton-le-sands</a>