Blackburn Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Blackburn's crime rate in November 2024 stood at 10.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 34.2% above the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. The area's crime profile remains shaped by its character as a post-industrial town with a significant retail presence and community spaces that can amplify anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 34.0% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour at 27.3% and criminal damage and arson at 6.2%. These patterns align with Blackburn's historical challenges in managing public order and property crime, compounded by seasonal factors such as Bonfire Night and the Black Friday shopping period, which can drive spikes in retail-related offences. The high proportion of violent crimes reflects the town's ongoing struggles with community safety, particularly in areas with concentrated social deprivation. Anti-social behaviour remains a persistent issue, likely linked to the density of housing and public spaces where such incidents are more likely to occur. The relatively low rate of theft from the person (0.3 per 1,000) suggests that targeted theft is not a major concern, though this may change during periods of high foot traffic or festive events. The seasonal context of November, with its long evenings and concentrated community events, may contribute to the elevated levels of violence and anti-social behaviour observed this month.

November 2024 saw a notable shift in Blackburn's crime mix, with violent crimes accounting for 34.0% of all reported incidents, significantly above the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This highlights a persistent challenge in addressing violence and sexual offences, which have remained high compared to national trends. Month-on-month, possession of weapons rose by 160.0%, from 5 to 13 incidents, a figure that would concern local residents and authorities. Conversely, robbery and theft from the person both declined sharply: robbery dropped by 53.8% (from 13 to 6) and theft from the person fell by 50.0% (from 8 to 4). These decreases may be linked to increased police visibility around key retail areas during the Black Friday period or changes in criminal activity patterns as the month progressed. Shoplifting also decreased by 21.4% (from 98 to 77), a reduction that could reflect seasonal shopper behaviour or targeted interventions by local businesses. Anti-social behaviour remained 152% above the UK average, with 346 incidents reported, underscoring the need for continued focus on community engagement and disorder management in Blackburn. The 36% increase in vehicle crime (from 0.4 to 0.6 per 1,000) may be tied to the area's commuter networks, though this remains a smaller proportion of overall crime compared to violent and anti-social incidents.

Blackburn's crime rate in November 2024 fell slightly to 10.2 per 1,000, a 6.5% decrease from the previous month's rate of 10.9 per 1,000. This small decline suggests a potential stabilisation in crime trends, though the area remains significantly above the UK average. Locally, the rate translates to approximately 42 crimes per day, a figure that residents may find challenging to contextualise without comparison. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 98 residents, a monthly exposure rate that highlights the frequency of incidents in a community of 124,917 people. When viewed through a population-scaled lens, Blackburn's crime rate remains 34.2% higher than the UK average, indicating systemic differences in crime dynamics that may be linked to the town's socio-economic profile and spatial organisation. The previous month's rate of 10.9 per 1,000 suggests that the November decline may be part of a broader seasonal pattern, though the overall rate remains elevated compared to many other areas. This comparison underscores the need for targeted interventions in Blackburn, particularly in addressing the disproportionate levels of violence and anti-social behaviour that persist despite the month-on-month reduction.