Blackburn with Darwen Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Blackburn with Darwen’s crime rate in February 2024 reached 9.6 per 1,000 residents, placing it 35.2% above the UK average of 7.1. This stark deviation from the national norm is most pronounced in violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 34.4% of all recorded crimes—32% higher than the UK average. The local crime profile reflects a combination of social and economic factors, with anti-social behaviour (21.3% of total crimes) and shoplifting (9.9%) also significantly exceeding national rates. These patterns are consistent with Blackburn’s status as a post-industrial town with a history of socio-economic challenges, where community cohesion and resource allocation may influence crime trends. The winter season, marked by low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull, likely contributes to the persistence of indoor-related offences such as anti-social behaviour and domestic violence. While property crimes (533) and violent crimes (537) remain roughly balanced, the dominance of violence-related incidents suggests a need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas. The seasonal context of February—characterised by shorter daylight hours and reduced public space usage—may also explain the relative absence of outdoor crimes like bicycle theft, which fell to 0.1 per 1,000. However, the overall elevation in crime rates compared to the UK average underscores the need for continued monitoring and tailored policing strategies in Blackburn with Darwen.

February 2024 saw significant shifts in Blackburn with Darwen’s crime profile, with shoplifting increasing by 46.2% month-on-month (from 106 to 155 incidents). This surge aligns with the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000, but the local rate of 1.0 per 1,000 highlights an 85% surplus, suggesting retail areas may be under heightened pressure. Conversely, bicycle theft dropped by 50% (from 2 to 1 incidents), a decline that may reflect seasonal trends or reduced outdoor activity. Other crime rose sharply by 47.8% (23 to 34 incidents), a category that includes a range of non-specific offences. This increase, combined with anti-social behaviour remaining 100% above the UK average, points to a persistent challenge in managing low-level disorder. The crime mix also reveals a notable imbalance: violence and sexual offences (34.4% of total crimes) dominate, with a 32% gap above the UK average. This suggests that local factors—such as community tensions or under-resourced support services—may be exacerbating violent crime trends. For residents, the 1.0 per 1,000 shoplifting rate serves as a concrete indicator of retail crime pressure, which could inform targeted community safety initiatives.

Blackburn with Darwen’s February 2024 crime rate of 9.6 per 1,000 represents a 5.4% increase from the previous month’s rate of 9.1, reflecting a gradual upward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 54 crimes per day, a figure that, while locally contextualised, illustrates the frequency of incidents in a community of 162,540 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 104 residents—a monthly exposure rate that underscores the scale of criminal activity relative to the population. This figure is particularly notable when compared to the UK average, which is not provided here, but the local rate’s elevation suggests a need for proportionate resource allocation. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Blackburn with Darwen’s crime burden is higher than the national average, with violent crimes and anti-social behaviour contributing significantly to this disparity. While the 5.4% month-on-month increase may appear modest, it represents a cumulative shift that could signal underlying trends, such as the impact of winter conditions on community dynamics or the effectiveness of recent policing strategies. For residents, the 1-in-104 monthly exposure rate offers a tangible measure of risk, though it does not account for variations in individual circumstances or localised hotspots.