Crime in Penwortham: statistics, rates and trends

1,161 crimes were recorded in Penwortham in the 12 months to July 2026, 64.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 502 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Penwortham has the 878th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Penwortham was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,640 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (1,128). Over the whole period it fell 29%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Penwortham 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 (+23%). The largest falls were in burglary (-36%) and other crime (-31%).

Violence and sexual offences in Penwortham

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Penwortham recorded 502 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 43.2% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Penwortham

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Penwortham recorded 279 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 24.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Penwortham

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Penwortham recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Penwortham

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Penwortham recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Penwortham

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Penwortham recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Penwortham

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Penwortham recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Penwortham

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Penwortham recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Penwortham

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Penwortham recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Penwortham

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Penwortham recorded 25 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 down 31% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Penwortham

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Penwortham recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Penwortham

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Penwortham recorded 7 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 down 46% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Penwortham

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Penwortham recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Penwortham

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Penwortham recorded 2 reports 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 71% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Penwortham

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Penwortham recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

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

3 areas within Penwortham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Middleforth had the highest rate (90.6 per 1,000) and Howick & Priory the lowest (30.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Penwortham over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Penwortham 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.

Penwortham has an estimated population of 18,004. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Penwortham sits in decile 7.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Penwortham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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