Postcode area · Oldham
Crime in OL
How much crime is recorded in OL, what kind, and how it compares with the rest of the country.
- Council
- Oldham
- Region
- North West
- Population
- 529,770 (2024)
OLPostcode area · Oldham
How safe is OL
Higher-harm crime — violence, robbery, burglary, vehicle crime and weapons offences — runs at 36.4 offences per 1,000 people a year in OL, above the 31.1 average across England and Wales. That puts it in band 8 of 10 against all council areas.
Higher-harm crime band
8/ 10
Lowest crimeHighest crime
Higher than most council areas in England and Wales.
Higher-harm
36.4
Per 1,000 a year · England & Wales 31.1
All crime
71
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).
OLNational
Violence and sexual offences30.023.6
Anti-social behaviour12.410.7
Shoplifting8.78.4
Burglary8.69.1
Criminal damage and arson6.14.7
Public order4.34.6
Other theft4.14.5
Vehicle crime2.83.5
Other crime1.81.5
Drugs1.82.4
Robbery0.81.4
Bicycle theft0.81.0
Possession of weapons0.60.9
Theft from the person0.42.1
Higher-harm crime over time
The rate has been broadly flat since 2022.
Higher-harm crimes per 1,000
0
10
20
30
40
2022202320242025
Source: data.police.uk street-level crime, resolved to neighbourhoods. Rates cover September 2025 to August 2026, the latest twelve months published.