Blackburn Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile in Blackburn during January 2024 reveals a stark contrast between violent crime and property crime, with violence and sexual offences dominating the landscape. At 35.2% of total reported crimes, violence and sexual offences accounted for the largest share, significantly outpacing the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 (31% above). This suggests a persistent challenge with interpersonal crime in the built-up area of Blackburn with Darwen. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 23.2% of total crimes, with a rate of 2.2 per 1,000 — 122% above the UK average. This may partly explain the area's overall crime rate being 29.7% higher than the national average. The third most common crime type, shoplifting, stood at 0.8 per 1,000 (40% above UK average), indicating retail environments remain a focal point for property crime. Seasonal context plays a role in these patterns: January's post-holiday period, combined with shorter daylight hours, likely contributes to reduced retail footfall and fewer outdoor crimes typical of busier months. However, the dominance of violent crime suggests deeper socio-economic factors at play, such as population density and community dynamics in this urbanised region. The balance of crime types — with violent crime far exceeding property crime — contrasts with some UK areas where property crime dominates, highlighting Blackburn's unique challenges in crime prevention and community safety.

January 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with theft from the person rising by 60% (5 to 8 incidents) — a sharp increase that could reflect heightened vulnerability during colder weather or changes in public behaviour. Robbery also increased by 28.6% (7 to 9), though this remains a relatively low-frequency crime. Criminal damage and arson rose by 27.3% (66 to 84), a concerning trend that may be linked to seasonal factors or targeted vandalism. Conversely, bicycle theft plummeted by 80% (10 to 2), due to reduced outdoor activity or improved security measures. Other theft fell by 42.7% (89 to 51), suggesting a temporary reduction in opportunistic crimes. Anti-social behaviour, already 122% above the UK average, remained a persistent issue, with 277 incidents reported — 23.2% of total crimes. This category's prevalence underscores the need for community-focused interventions. Meanwhile, shoplifting remained elevated at 0.8 per 1,000 (40% above UK average), reinforcing the need for targeted retail crime prevention strategies. These changes highlight the dynamic nature of crime in Blackburn, where violent crime remains a central concern but specific categories show marked fluctuations.

Blackburn's crime rate in January 2024 (9.6 per 1,000) showed a minimal 1.9% increase from the previous month's rate of 9.4 per 1,000, indicating relative stability over the short term. On a daily basis, 39 crimes were reported per day — a figure that, while consistent with historical trends, reflects the area's higher-than-average crime profile. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 105 residents, a monthly exposure rate that highlights the frequency of incidents in a population of 124,917. This figure is particularly striking when compared to the UK average, where the overall crime rate is 7.4 per 1,000. Blackburn's residents face a higher risk of experiencing crime than the national average, with the most significant disparity seen in anti-social behaviour (122% above UK levels) and violence (31% above). The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area's crime burden is not just a matter of absolute numbers but a proportionally higher risk for its residents. While the month-on-month change was minimal, the persistent gap between Blackburn and the UK average underscores the need for sustained efforts to address systemic issues driving crime in this built-up area.