Postcode area · Bolton
Crime in BL
How much crime is recorded in BL, what kind, and how it compares with the rest of the country.
- Council
- Bolton
- Region
- North West
- Population
- 442,473 (2024)
BLPostcode area · Bolton
How safe is BL
Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 14.6 offences per 1,000 people a year in BL, less than half the 31.1 average across England and Wales. That puts it in band 1 of 10 against all council areas.
Higher-harm crime band
1/ 10
Lowest crimeHighest crime
Lower than most council areas in England and Wales.
Higher-harm
14.6
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 31.1
All crime
30
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 67
What crime is recorded
Offences per 1,000 people a year, at-risk population (residents plus people who work here; households for burglary).
BLNational
Violence and sexual offences9.923.6
Anti-social behaviour7.810.7
Burglary6.09.1
Criminal damage and arson3.14.7
Other theft2.04.5
Vehicle crime1.83.5
Public order1.54.6
Drugs1.12.4
Possession of weapons1.00.9
Robbery0.81.4
Other crime0.71.5
Shoplifting0.58.4
Bicycle theft0.31.0
Theft from the person0.22.1
Higher-harm crime over time
It has fallen 12% since 2022.
Higher-harm crimes per 1,000
0
5
10
15
20
2022202320242025
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, resolved to neighbourhoods. Rates cover September 2025 to August 2026, the latest twelve months published.