Crime in Carnforth: statistics, rates and trends
396 crimes were recorded in Carnforth in the 12 months to August 2026, 71.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Carnforth at a glance
- Crime trends in Carnforth
- Types of crime in Carnforth
- Carnforth compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Carnforth
- Streets with the most crime in Carnforth
- What happened after crimes were reported in Carnforth
- Demographics of Carnforth
- Questions about crime in Carnforth
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (160), anti-social behaviour (82) and criminal damage and arson (34) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 747th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Carnforth | Lancaster | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 396 | 14,063 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 71.8 | 97.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -10% | -1% |
| Population | 5,513 | 145,006 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Carnforth peaked in the year to August 2021 (566 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (338). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 28%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 396 | 71.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 408 | 74.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 338 | 61.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 384 | 69.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 491 | 89.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 566 | 102.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 500 | 90.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 485 | 88.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 548 | 99.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 35 |
| July 2026 | 30 |
| June 2026 | 48 |
| May 2026 | 21 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 32 |
| February 2026 | 37 |
| January 2026 | 39 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 26 |
| October 2025 | 51 |
| September 2025 | 22 |
On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 26 to 34, while anti-social behaviour fell from 115 to 82.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 160 | 29.0 | 34.2 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 82 | 14.9 | 15.4 | -29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34 | 6.2 | 6.7 | +31% |
| Other theft | 29 | 5.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 19 | 3.4 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Burglary | 18 | 3.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Public order | 18 | 3.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 2.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 11 | 2.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Carnforth; the highest is Morecambe (140.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Bailrigg (27.3).
Carnforth & Millhead is the one area listed within Carnforth, with 71.8 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnforth & Millhead | Neighbourhood | 5,513 | 396 | 71.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Carnforth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “John Street” (42).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near John Street | 42 |
| On or near Hawk Street | 18 |
| On or near Supermarket | 18 |
| On or near Highfield Road | 16 |
| On or near Queens Court | 15 |
| On or near Kellet Road | 14 |
| On or near Pond Terrace | 14 |
| On or near Ashtrees Way | 11 |
| On or near Arnhem Road | 10 |
| On or near Queen'S Drive | 10 |
Of the 314 crimes in Carnforth with a recorded outcome, 28% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 82 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 117 | 37.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 87 | 27.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 41 | 13.1% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 33 | 10.5% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 8 | 2.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 7 | 2.2% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.9% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
Carnforth has an estimated population of 5,513 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (7.6%, against 17.1%), fewer students (4.2%, against 7.9%) and fewer households without a car (15%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Carnforth average decile 5.5 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Carnforth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 7.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Carnforth a safe place to live?
Carnforth recorded 71.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 747th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Carnforth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 160 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (82).
Is crime in Carnforth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Carnforth was down 3% on the year before: 396 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 408 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Carnforth?
About 5,513 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Carnforth?
Carnforth is policed by Lancashire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.