Lancaster crime rate

Overview of Lancaster crime rate

Essential tools against vehicle theft

Essential tools against vehicle theft.

Lancaster’s crime level is considered high.

Ranking 8th among 25 nearby areas for its crime rate, Lancaster reported 14,887 incidents in 2023. With a population of 142,931, this translates to a crime rate of 104.16 per 1,000 residents, showcasing a 9.55% decline from the previous year.

The most frequent crimes in Lancaster include Violence and sexual offences (31.7%), Anti-social behaviour (29.7%), and Criminal damage and arson (10.0%). The least common offences are Possession of weapons (1.0%), Theft from the person (0.6%), and Robbery (0.4%).

Lancaster is divided into 27 wards, with Castle (Lancaster) (290.9), Poulton (284.8), and Heysham North (181.4) reporting the highest crime rates. The safest areas include Upper Lune Valley (31.5), Bolton & Slyne (26.5), and University & Scotforth Rural (26.4).

When considering Postcode districts overlapping with Lancaster, LA4 (146.5), LA1 (120.6), and LA3 (119.6) have higher crime rates, while LA2 (36.6), LA7 (36.4), and LA6 (32.9) are among the safest.

In Lancaster, there has been a significant rise in Anti-social behaviour in 2020, along with increases in Criminal damage and arson and Violence and sexual offences in subsequent years, indicating escalating concerns around social disorder and violence. However, substantial decreases in Anti-social behaviour in the following years, as well as reductions in Burglary, Other theft, and Violence and sexual offences, suggest effective strategies in place to combat these issues, especially the marked reduction in anti-social behaviour and violence, pointing towards positive outcomes from community and law enforcement interventions.

Lancaster crime incidents by crime type

A total of 14887 crime incidents were reported in 2023. Below is the breakdown by crime type.
  • Violence and sexual offences – 4722 (31.7)%
  • Anti-social behaviour – 4428 (29.7)%
  • Criminal damage and arson – 1483 (10.0)%
  • Other theft – 832 (5.6)%
  • Public order – 690 (4.6)%
  • Shoplifting – 652 (4.4)%
  • Burglary – 625 (4.2)%
  • Vehicle crime – 466 (3.1)%
  • Drugs – 292 (2.0)%
  • Other crime – 240 (1.6)%
  • Bicycle theft – 160 (1.1)%
  • Possession of weapons – 144 (1.0)%
  • Theft from the person – 87 (0.6)%
  • Robbery – 66 (0.4)%

How does Lancaster compare against nearby areas ?

Lancaster ranks 8th when compared against 25 nearby boroughs/local administrative districts.

Heat map for all nearby areas Lancaster is compared against

Crime rates in postcode districts under Lancaster

There are 8 postcode districts/outcodes under or overlapping with Lancaster. Highest crime rates in LA4, LA1, LA3 .

  • LA4 – 146.5
  • LA1 – 120.6
  • LA3 – 119.6
  • PR3 – 58.8
  • LA5 – 42.8
  • LA2 – 36.6
  • LA7 – 36.4
  • LA6 – 32.9

Postcode districts in Lancaster

For postcode level details drill down the postcode districts or visit Postcode Search


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