Crime in Clitheroe: statistics, rates and trends
1,112 crimes were recorded in Clitheroe in the 12 months to August 2026, 59.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Clitheroe at a glance
- Crime trends in Clitheroe
- Types of crime in Clitheroe
- Clitheroe compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Clitheroe
- Streets with the most crime in Clitheroe
- What happened after crimes were reported in Clitheroe
- Demographics of Clitheroe
- Questions about crime in Clitheroe
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (412), anti-social behaviour (282) and criminal damage and arson (79) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 971st of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Clitheroe | Ribble Valley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,112 | 3,311 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 59.2 | 50.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 18,769 | 65,794 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Clitheroe of any year here (1,112 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 20%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,112 | 59.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,169 | 62.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,333 | 71.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,240 | 66.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,238 | 66.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,382 | 73.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,307 | 69.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,176 | 62.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,391 | 74.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 86 |
| July 2026 | 81 |
| June 2026 | 107 |
| May 2026 | 103 |
| April 2026 | 84 |
| March 2026 | 100 |
| February 2026 | 73 |
| January 2026 | 88 |
| December 2025 | 90 |
| November 2025 | 84 |
| October 2025 | 107 |
| September 2025 | 109 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and drugs (66% below) and vehicle crime (64% below) were well below it. On the year before, burglary rose from 32 to 40 and public order rose from 60 to 70, while anti-social behaviour fell from 366 to 282 and vehicle crime fell from 44 to 34.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 412 | 22.0 | 34.2 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 282 | 15.0 | 15.4 | -23% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 79 | 4.2 | 6.7 | -18% |
| Public order | 70 | 3.7 | 6.7 | +17% |
| Other theft | 64 | 3.4 | 6.4 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 63 | 3.4 | 8.5 | +11% |
| Burglary | 40 | 2.1 | 3.6 | +25% |
| Vehicle crime | 34 | 1.8 | 5.0 | -23% |
| Other crime | 28 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0% |
| Drugs | 21 | 1.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest towns has a higher crime rate than Clitheroe.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Clitheroe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Harwood | 1,062 | 92.6 | +56% |
| Padiham | 1,527 | 137.7 | +132% |
| Clayton-le-Moors | 1,139 | 113.7 | +92% |
| Rishton | 638 | 91.0 | +54% |
| Barrowford | 451 | 66.1 | +12% |
| Brierfield | 1,205 | 96.6 | +63% |
| Nelson (Pendle) | 3,882 | 107.9 | +82% |
| Burnley | 12,274 | 146.3 | +147% |
Of the 5 areas within Clitheroe, Littlemoor had the highest crime rate (90.9 per 1,000) and Edisford & Low Moor the lowest (29.0), 3 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Littlemoor | Neighbourhood | 3,764 | 342 | 90.9 |
| Salthill | Neighbourhood | 3,447 | 304 | 88.2 |
| Primrose | Neighbourhood | 4,183 | 252 | 60.2 |
| St Mary's | Neighbourhood | 3,204 | 93 | 29.0 |
| Edisford & Low Moor | Neighbourhood | 4,171 | 121 | 29.0 |
The 10 locations below account for 25% of the crime recorded in Clitheroe over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (44).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 44 |
| On or near Market Place | 42 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 35 |
| On or near Moor Lane | 29 |
| On or near Wellgate | 27 |
| On or near Parking Area | 24 |
| On or near Turner Street | 23 |
| On or near Shawbridge Street | 20 |
| On or near Giles Street | 19 |
| On or near Greenacre Street | 19 |
Of the 830 crimes in Clitheroe with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 282 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 368 | 44.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 216 | 26.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 73 | 8.8% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 60 | 7.2% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 33 | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 28 | 3.4% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 20 | 2.4% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 1 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Clitheroe has an estimated population of 18,769 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.8%, against 7.9%), more retired residents (27%, against 22%) and less social housing (13%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Clitheroe average decile 7.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Clitheroe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 36.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Clitheroe a safe place to live?
Clitheroe recorded 59.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 971st of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Clitheroe?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 412 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (282).
Is crime in Clitheroe going up or down?
Recorded crime in Clitheroe was down 5% on the year before: 1,112 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,169 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Clitheroe?
About 18,769 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Clitheroe?
Clitheroe 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.