Blackburn with Darwen Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Blackburn with Darwen’s crime rate in January 2026 stood at 8.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 19.1% above the UK average of 6.8. This disparity underscores a local profile where violent crime overwhelmingly dominates the crime picture, accounting for 41.4% of all incidents—significantly higher than the UK average for violence and sexual offences. The area’s most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, followed by anti-social behaviour (17.7%) and criminal damage and arson (7.8%). These figures align with the district’s character as a post-industrial urban centre, where social challenges and economic factors may contribute to higher rates of interpersonal violence. Seasonal context suggests that January’s reduced retail footfall and shorter days may have dampened property crime rates compared to busier months, though violent crime remains a persistent concern. The UK average for anti-social behaviour is 0.9 per 1,000, but Blackburn with Darwen’s rate is 51% higher at 1.4 per 1,000, a figure that may reflect the area’s demographic composition and community dynamics. While property crimes such as shoplifting were 30% below the UK average, the overall dominance of violent crime suggests a need for targeted interventions to address root causes, including socioeconomic factors and community cohesion.

January 2026 saw notable fluctuations in crime categories, with burglary increasing by 65.4% compared to December, driven by a rise from 26 to 43 incidents. This jump, combined with a 66.7% rise in theft from the person, highlights shifting patterns in property-related offences. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 33.5%, a decline that may reflect targeted interventions or seasonal factors such as reduced public gatherings. Violent crime remained the dominant category, accounting for 41.4% of all incidents—32% above the UK average for violence and sexual offences. Shoplifting rates were 30% below the UK average, a contrast to the 51% increase in anti-social behaviour. These divergent trends suggest a combination of local dynamics and broader national trends, with property crimes showing both increases and decreases across specific categories.

The crime rate in Blackburn with Darwen for January 2026 fell by 9.7% compared to December 2025, dropping from 8.9 to 8.1 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns typical for January, a post-holiday period marked by reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours, which may partly explain lower outdoor crime rates. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 42 crimes per day in January, a figure that provides a tangible sense of local exposure. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 124 residents, a monthly aggregate that highlights the frequency of incidents within the population. When scaled to the area’s 162,540 residents, this rate underscores the need for community-focused initiatives to address persistent issues. The drop in anti-social behaviour and possession of weapons suggests potential shifts in policing strategies or community engagement efforts, though further data would be required to confirm these factors directly.