Crime in Rawtenstall: statistics, rates and trends

1,658 crimes were recorded in Rawtenstall in the 12 months to July 2026, 80.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 14% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 655 reports (40% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Rawtenstall has the 618th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Rawtenstall was highest in the year to July 2021 (2,173 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (1,621). Over the whole period it fell 6%, 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 Rawtenstall 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 shoplifting (+30%) and vehicle crime (+25%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-43%) and other theft (-29%).

Violence and sexual offences in Rawtenstall

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Rawtenstall recorded 655 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 39.5% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Rawtenstall

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Rawtenstall recorded 381 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 23.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Rawtenstall

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Rawtenstall recorded 137 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Rawtenstall

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Rawtenstall recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Rawtenstall

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Rawtenstall recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Rawtenstall

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Rawtenstall recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Rawtenstall

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Rawtenstall recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Rawtenstall

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Rawtenstall recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Rawtenstall

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Rawtenstall recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Rawtenstall

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Rawtenstall recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Rawtenstall

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Rawtenstall recorded 7 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 down 36% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Rawtenstall

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Rawtenstall recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Rawtenstall

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Rawtenstall recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Rawtenstall

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Rawtenstall recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

4 areas within Rawtenstall, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Longholme had the highest rate (122.3 per 1,000) and Goodshaw & Cribden the lowest (47.1). 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 Rawtenstall over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Rawtenstall 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.

Rawtenstall has an estimated population of 20,724. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Rawtenstall sits in decile 5.0, close to the middle. 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 Rawtenstall. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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