Crime in Nelson (Pendle): statistics, rates and trends
3,882 crimes were recorded in Nelson (Pendle) in the 12 months to August 2026, 107.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Nelson (Pendle) at a glance
- Crime trends in Nelson (Pendle)
- Types of crime in Nelson (Pendle)
- Nelson (Pendle) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Nelson (Pendle)
- Streets with the most crime in Nelson (Pendle)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Nelson (Pendle)
- Demographics of Nelson (Pendle)
- Questions about crime in Nelson (Pendle)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,558), anti-social behaviour (789) and criminal damage and arson (272) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 276th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Nelson (Pendle) | Pendle | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 3,882 | 9,233 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 107.9 | 92.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -8% | -1% |
| Population | 35,986 | 99,777 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Nelson (Pendle) peaked in the year to August 2021 (5,255 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (3,473). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 17%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 3,882 | 107.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 4,229 | 117.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,888 | 108.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 3,473 | 96.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 4,313 | 119.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 5,255 | 146.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 4,800 | 133.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 4,316 | 119.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 4,677 | 130.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 317 |
| July 2026 | 330 |
| June 2026 | 311 |
| May 2026 | 377 |
| April 2026 | 341 |
| March 2026 | 322 |
| February 2026 | 230 |
| January 2026 | 284 |
| December 2025 | 305 |
| November 2025 | 325 |
| October 2025 | 369 |
| September 2025 | 371 |
Compared with England and Wales, Nelson (Pendle) recorded notably more other crime (49% above the national rate), anti-social behaviour (43% above the national rate) and possession of weapons (41% above the national rate), and notably less robbery (41% below) and vehicle crime (36% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 73 to 139, while anti-social behaviour fell from 1,312 to 789 and vehicle crime fell from 156 to 114.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,558 | 43.3 | 34.2 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 789 | 21.9 | 15.4 | -40% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 272 | 7.6 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 254 | 7.1 | 6.4 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 206 | 5.7 | 8.5 | +14% |
| Public order | 194 | 5.4 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Burglary | 142 | 3.9 | 3.6 | +13% |
| Drugs | 139 | 3.9 | 3.3 | +90% |
| Vehicle crime | 114 | 3.2 | 5.0 | -27% |
| Other crime | 113 | 3.1 | 2.1 | -3% |
| Possession of weapons | 49 | 1.4 | 1.0 | -6% |
| Robbery | 29 | 0.8 | 1.4 | -26% |
| Theft from the person | 16 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Nelson (Pendle); the highest is Burnley (146.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Barnoldswick (52.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Nelson (Pendle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barrowford | 451 | 66.1 | -39% |
| Brierfield | 1,205 | 96.6 | -10% |
| Colne | 2,469 | 122.1 | +13% |
| Burnley | 12,274 | 146.3 | +36% |
| Padiham | 1,527 | 137.7 | +28% |
| Barnoldswick | 580 | 52.0 | -52% |
| Clitheroe | 1,112 | 59.2 | -45% |
| Clayton-le-Moors | 1,139 | 113.7 | +5% |
Of the 3 areas within Nelson (Pendle), Bradley had the highest crime rate (119.9 per 1,000) and Marsden & Southfield the lowest (99.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradley | Neighbourhood | 10,246 | 1,229 | 119.9 |
| Whitefield & Walverden | Neighbourhood | 12,628 | 1,322 | 104.7 |
| Marsden & Southfield | Neighbourhood | 9,426 | 937 | 99.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 19% of the crime recorded in Nelson (Pendle) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (161).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 161 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 146 |
| On or near Kendal Street | 80 |
| On or near Swinden Hall Road | 66 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 51 |
| On or near Newfield Drive | 48 |
| On or near Back Scotland Road | 47 |
| On or near Bond Street | 45 |
| On or near Roberts Street | 45 |
| On or near Carradice Close | 42 |
Of the 3,093 crimes in Nelson (Pendle) with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 789 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,284 | 41.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 843 | 27.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 302 | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 246 | 8.0% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 126 | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 105 | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 86 | 2.8% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 40 | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 22 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 21 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 16 | 0.5% | 0.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Nelson (Pendle) has an estimated population of 35,986 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (33%, against 18%), more private renting (31%, against 20%) and more households without a car (33%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Nelson (Pendle) average decile 1.6 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Nelson (Pendle) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 25.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 47.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 14.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 10.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 19.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 33.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 33.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 53.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 30.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.6 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 71.3% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Nelson (Pendle) a safe place to live?
Nelson (Pendle) recorded 107.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 276th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Nelson (Pendle)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,558 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (789).
Is crime in Nelson (Pendle) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Nelson (Pendle) was down 8% on the year before: 3,882 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 4,229 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Nelson (Pendle)?
About 35,986 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 12% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Nelson (Pendle)?
Nelson (Pendle) 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.