Crime in Cottam (Preston): statistics, rates and trends
509 crimes were recorded in Cottam (Preston) in the 12 months to August 2026, 52.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cottam (Preston) at a glance
- Crime trends in Cottam (Preston)
- Types of crime in Cottam (Preston)
- Cottam (Preston) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Cottam (Preston)
- Streets with the most crime in Cottam (Preston)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cottam (Preston)
- Demographics of Cottam (Preston)
- Questions about crime in Cottam (Preston)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (233), anti-social behaviour (104) and criminal damage and arson (54) made up 77% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,103rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Cottam (Preston) | Preston | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 509 | 20,756 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 52.7 | 127.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -15% | -8% | -1% |
| Population | 9,666 | 162,864 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cottam (Preston) peaked in the year to August 2024 (645 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (145). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 251%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 509 | 52.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 597 | 61.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 645 | 66.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 376 | 38.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 361 | 37.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 306 | 31.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 247 | 25.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 210 | 21.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 145 | 15.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 46 |
| July 2026 | 51 |
| June 2026 | 56 |
| May 2026 | 39 |
| April 2026 | 29 |
| March 2026 | 34 |
| February 2026 | 44 |
| January 2026 | 42 |
| December 2025 | 44 |
| November 2025 | 39 |
| October 2025 | 45 |
| September 2025 | 40 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and public order (61% below) and anti-social behaviour (30% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 40 to 54 and violence and sexual offences rose from 199 to 233, while anti-social behaviour fell from 215 to 104.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 233 | 24.1 | 34.2 | +17% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 104 | 10.8 | 15.4 | -52% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 54 | 5.6 | 6.7 | +35% |
| Public order | 25 | 2.6 | 6.7 | -14% |
| Other crime | 22 | 2.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Other theft | 19 | 2.0 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 16 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 1.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 7 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 7 | 0.7 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Cottam (Preston); the highest is Preston (Preston) (160.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Longton (31.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cottam (Preston) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulwood | 2,656 | 77.2 | +47% |
| Preston (Preston) | 15,909 | 160.6 | +205% |
| Penwortham | 1,130 | 62.8 | +19% |
| Longton | 365 | 31.9 | -39% |
| Kirkham | 683 | 83.0 | +58% |
| Bamber Bridge | 3,825 | 91.9 | +75% |
| Warton (Fylde) | 344 | 59.4 | +13% |
| Leyland | 3,668 | 90.0 | +71% |
Preston Rural North is the one area listed within Cottam (Preston), with 45.8 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Rural North | Neighbourhood | 7,852 | 360 | 45.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Cottam (Preston) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Canberra Lane” and “Sandy Lane” (38 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Canberra Lane | 38 |
| On or near Sandy Lane | 38 |
| On or near Fiddlers Fold Court | 31 |
| On or near Finch Lane | 26 |
| On or near Downy Close | 23 |
| On or near Harvester Drive | 23 |
| On or near Daisyfields | 18 |
| On or near Beagle Close | 14 |
| On or near Edgewater Oaks | 13 |
| On or near Chiswell Road | 12 |
Of the 405 crimes in Cottam (Preston) with a recorded outcome, 20% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 104 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 179 | 44.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 79 | 19.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 60 | 14.8% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 27 | 6.7% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 24 | 5.9% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 14 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 1.7% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Cottam (Preston) has an estimated population of 9,666 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (4.8%, against 23.3%), less social housing (5.9%, against 17.1%) and less private renting (7.5%, against 20.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cottam (Preston) average decile 8.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Cottam (Preston) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 24.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 8.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 74.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 14.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 47.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 7.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 4.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 86.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 5.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 7.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Cottam (Preston) a safe place to live?
Cottam (Preston) recorded 52.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,103rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Cottam (Preston)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 233 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (104).
Is crime in Cottam (Preston) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cottam (Preston) was down 15% on the year before: 509 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 597 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cottam (Preston)?
About 9,666 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 8.7% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cottam (Preston)?
Cottam (Preston) 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.