Blackburn with Darwen Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

November 2023 saw Blackburn with Darwen record a crime rate of 9.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 21.3% above the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This figure underscores the area’s ongoing challenge with maintaining safety compared to the national benchmark. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 33% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 3.0 per 1,000—16% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 24.9% of total crimes at a rate of 2.3 per 1,000, a figure 119% above the national average. Shoplifting, though less frequent, remained a notable concern, making up 9.7% of all crimes. The seasonal context of November—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday, and the transition to shorter evenings—may have influenced these patterns, as increased public activity during the former and heightened retail footfall during the latter could create conditions conducive to certain types of crime. However, a direct link between these events and the observed rates. The relative stability of burglary and vehicle crime, both below UK averages, suggests that targeted policing efforts or environmental factors in residential and commercial areas may be contributing to these outcomes. While the overall rate remains elevated, the absence of a sharp upward trend compared to previous months indicates that local efforts to manage crime may be having some effect, even if the challenge persists.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in November 2023 was the 57.4% increase in public order offences, rising from 47 to 74. This surge, though unexplained by the data, may reflect heightened tensions during Bonfire Night events or the early stages of the Christmas shopping season. Conversely, theft from the person plummeted by 85.7%, from 7 to 1, a drop that could indicate improved security measures or a seasonal lull in opportunistic crime. Violent crime remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 33% of all reported incidents, with a rate of 3.0 per 1,000—16% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, at 2.3 per 1,000, was 119% above the UK average, a stark contrast to vehicle crime, which fell 20% below the national rate. Residents may find the 9.7% share of shoplifting incidents (144 cases) noteworthy, as it highlights the continued pressure on retail environments, particularly around Black Friday.

Blackburn with Darwen's November 2023 crime rate of 9.1 per 1,000 residents marked a 9.6% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 10.1 per 1,000. This decline, while modest, aligns with the seasonal slowdown typical in late autumn, when festive events and holiday shopping have not yet begun to influence activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 49 crimes per day during November, a figure that, while locally relevant, lacks a direct UK-wide comparator due to varying population densities. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 110 residents, a ratio that places the area in the context of its population size. With 162,540 residents, this translates to a manageable but consistent level of crime that may partly explain the focus on community policing initiatives in recent months. The shift in crime types from November to October—particularly the sharp drop in theft from the person and the rise in public order offences—suggests a changing pattern of activity that could reflect local events or environmental factors, such as the timing of Bonfire Night.