Blackburn with Darwen Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Blackburn with Darwen's crime profile in December 2025, accounting for 38.6% of all reported crimes and standing at 3.5 per 1,000 residents—36% above the UK average. This category's prominence underscores the area's ongoing challenges with interpersonal crime, a pattern consistent with the region's socio-economic profile and historical trends. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, contributing 24.0% of incidents at 2.2 per 1,000 residents, a rate 137% higher than the national average. These figures highlight the strain on local communities, particularly during the festive season when social interactions intensify. The seasonal context of December—characterised by long nights, empty homes over holidays, and increased retail activity—likely amplifies such issues. For instance, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson (up 27.4% to 107 incidents) may be linked to property neglect during the holidays or targeted vandalism in areas with high foot traffic. Meanwhile, the relatively low rate of shoplifting (0.4 per 1,000, 30% below the UK average) suggests that retail security measures or seasonal consumer behaviour are mitigating this category. The overall crime rate of 8.9 per 1,000 residents places Blackburn with Darwen 27.1% above the UK average, a gap that reflects the area's distinct challenges compared to the national profile. This discrepancy is likely influenced by the borough's mix of urban and post-industrial areas, where concentrated populations and historical deprivation may contribute to higher crime rates. The persistent dominance of violent crime over property crime also indicates a need for targeted interventions in community policing and social support networks.

December 2025 witnessed significant fluctuations in specific crime categories. Possession of weapons surged by 61.5%, with incidents rising from 13 to 21, a jump that may reflect increased enforcement activity or shifting criminal behaviour during the festive period. Criminal damage and arson also rose by 27.4%, from 84 to 107, potentially linked to seasonal vandalism or property neglect during holidays. Conversely, bicycle theft plummeted by 75%, from 4 to 1, a stark decline that could indicate improved security measures or reduced usage during colder months. Violent crimes remain 36% above the UK average, with 3.5 per 1,000 residents affected. This disparity highlights the area's unique challenges compared to the national profile. Residents may find the sharp drop in theft from the person—down 66.7% from 9 to 3—particularly relevant, as it suggests improved personal safety measures or reduced opportunities for such crimes during the month.

Blackburn with Darwen's December 2025 crime rate of 8.9 per 1,000 residents marks a 2.1% decline from November's 9.1 per 1,000, reflecting a slight easing in overall activity. This reduction, though modest, aligns with the month's seasonal context—longer nights and holiday-related disruptions may have influenced reporting patterns. On a daily basis, 47 crimes were recorded each day in December, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for local residents. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 112 residents, a metric that underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the population. When scaled to the area's 162,540 residents, this rate highlights the persistent challenge of maintaining public safety in a region with a history of higher-than-average crime. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that while the rate is lower than November, the absolute number of crimes remains substantial, particularly in violent and anti-social categories.