St Matthew's, Preston: Safety
Safety
Crime rates in St Matthew's have been higher than the UK and North West averages, but 2026 data shows a real improvement that's bringing the neighbourhood much closer to national levels.
In 2024 and 2025, St Matthew's recorded around 213 crimes per 1,000 people — more than double the UK average of roughly 90. Anti-social behaviour and violent crime made up the largest share of incidents.
Things have changed noticeably in 2026. The rate has dropped sharply to 100 crimes per 1,000 people, which is now much closer to the UK average of around 92. That's a significant shift in just a year.
It's worth putting this in context: the neighbouring City Centre consistently records much higher crime rates than St Matthew's.
Source: police-recorded crime for St Matthew's ward (Lancashire Constabulary, data.police.uk), Jan 2024–Aug 2026; residents from Census 2021. This summary may predate the latest data release; the table below has the current figures.
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Crime rate comparison
Crimes per 1,000 residents, Jan–Dec 2025. St Matthew's ward: Lancashire Constabulary data via data.police.uk; residents from Census 2021. Averages are for all wards in the area over the same months. Planna's safety index uses the latest 12 months instead, so it can differ.
2024
2025
Jan–Aug 2026
St Matthew's ward
Crimes/1,000 residents
213.1
Higher than
UK average (England, Wales & N. Ireland)
98.8
Higher than
North West region average
99
Neighbouring wards
Higher than
Brookfield
156.5
Lower than
City Centre
465.9
Higher than
Plungington
167.8
Higher than
Ribbleton
170.3
Higher than
Deepdale
149.2
Higher than
Fishwick & Frenchwood
127.6
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Types of Crime
Share of police-recorded crimes in St Matthew's ward and the North West region average, Jan–Dec 2025.
This ward
Regional average
- Violent offences30%39%
- Anti-social behaviour30%17%
- Criminal damage and arson7%8%
- Public order6%8%
- Vehicle crime5%3%
- Other theft5%5%
- Shoplifting4%6%
- Drugs4%5%
- Burglary4%3%
- Other crime3%2%
- Possession of weapons1%1%
- Robbery1%1%
- Bicycle theft1%1%
- Theft from the person<1%<1%
