Burnley Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Burnley's February 2026 crime rate of 10.7 per 1,000 residents places it 67.2% above the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, underscoring a stark divergence from national trends. This elevated rate is driven by a concentration of violent crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 37.4% of all reported incidents — a figure 72% higher than the UK average. Anti-social behaviour (14.6%) and shoplifting (13.0%) further contribute to the profile, both significantly exceeding national benchmarks. The winter season, marked by reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull, may have influenced these patterns, though the precise interplay of seasonal factors and local dynamics remains unclear. Burnley's crime picture reflects the challenges of a post-industrial town with a complex mix of urban and suburban characteristics, where high rates of violent and anti-social crime persist despite efforts to address them. The dominance of violent crime, in particular, contrasts with the UK-wide trend of declining violence, suggesting that local socio-economic conditions or policing strategies may play a role. This data highlights the need for targeted interventions in areas where violent crime remains high, while the relative underperformance of vehicle crime (14% below the UK average) may indicate localized successes in addressing specific types of crime.

February 2026 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with public order offences surging by 76.7% (43 → 76) — a stark increase that may reflect heightened tensions in public spaces during winter. Shoplifting also rose sharply by 50.0% (74 → 111), potentially linked to seasonal retail activity or changes in policing focus. Conversely, theft from the person plummeted by 75.0% (4 → 1), a drop that could indicate effective measures in high-risk areas or reduced opportunities for such crimes. Vehicle crime in Burnley was 14% below the UK average, a deviation that may stem from local factors such as parking patterns or community engagement initiatives. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of crime trends, with some categories showing marked divergence from national benchmarks while others remain alarmingly elevated.

Burnley's crime rate in February 2026 (10.7 per 1,000) reflects a 9.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 11.8 per 1,000, marking a slight downward trend. This reduction, though modest, may be influenced by seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity during winter and the pre-spring lull. Daily crime figures show 31 crimes reported per day on average, a local metric that highlights the frequency of incidents in a given timeframe. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 93 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the scale of crime relative to the population of 79,676. While the rate remains significantly above the UK average, the decline from January suggests potential shifts in policing efforts or community initiatives. The population-scaled perspective underscores that, despite the high rate, the likelihood of any individual experiencing crime is not universally high, with most residents unaffected by incidents.