Burnley Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Burnley's crime profile in October 2023 reveals a striking dominance of violent and anti-social offences, with these two categories accounting for over 58% of all reported crimes. The overall crime rate of 13.1 per 1,000 residents places the area 63.7% above the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, a disparity that underscores systemic challenges in crime prevention. Violence and sexual offences (396 incidents) emerged as the most prevalent category, followed closely by anti-social behaviour (363 incidents), which alone exceeds the UK average by 189%. This imbalance suggests a combination of community dynamics and environmental factors, particularly as October's shorter days and Halloween festivities likely amplify opportunities for anti-social conduct. Shoplifting, though less frequent than violence, still surged to 112 incidents—90% above the UK average—potentially reflecting retail vulnerabilities during the pre-Christmas shopping season. The data also highlights an unusual concentration of property crimes (461 total), with criminal damage and arson (106 incidents) and burglary (80 incidents) both significantly outpacing national averages. These patterns may align with Burnley's post-industrial character, where abandoned properties or economic hardship could contribute to higher rates of property-related offences. Seasonal context adds nuance: the clocks going back in October likely extended the window for evening crimes, while Halloween's transient population may have introduced new dynamics to public spaces.

October 2023 saw marked shifts in Burnley's crime mix, with shoplifting surging by 55.6% to 112 incidents—the highest monthly total since the dataset's inception. This increase may partly explain the area's 63.7% above UK average crime rate, as retail-focused offences often dominate in areas with high foot traffic or vulnerable storefronts. Robbery also spiked sharply, with a 133.3% increase from 3 to 7 incidents, though this remains relatively low compared to other categories. Conversely, bicycle theft declined by 28.6% to 5 incidents, potentially reflecting seasonal patterns as colder weather reduces outdoor activity. Anti-social behaviour, which accounted for 27.9% of all crimes, remains high (189% above UK average), a trend likely tied to Burnley's densely populated urban core where noise and nuisance complaints are more concentrated. Vehicle crime (0.5 per 1,000) was the only category below the UK average (0.5 vs 0.5), suggesting that local parking infrastructure or vehicle security measures may offer some protection against this type of crime. Residents should be aware that while public order offences fell by 22.4% to 38 incidents, the continued prominence of violent crimes—particularly in the context of the area's above-average rates—remains a pressing concern.

Burnley's crime rate in October 2023 (13.1 per 1,000) marked a 9.2% increase from the previous month's 12.0 per 1,000, a rise that translates to approximately 42 crimes reported daily across the 99,233-resident area. This monthly aggregate means that over the course of October, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 76 residents—a frequency that, while not extreme, underscores the persistent challenge of crime management in the district. Comparing this to the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, Burnley's rate remains strikingly elevated, with the gap widening since 2021 when the area's crime rate was 11.3 per 1,000. The daily crime count of 42 incidents provides a tangible sense of the local impact: this equates to nearly one crime every 2.5 hours in Burnley's urban centres. While the population-scaled perspective (1-in-76 residents) may seem abstract, it reflects real-world experiences for residents who live in areas with high concentrations of violent and anti-social offences. The previous month's rate (12.0) was already above the UK average, but the October increase suggests a compounding effect of factors such as seasonal darkness and the Halloween period, which may have amplified opportunities for certain types of crime. These figures highlight the need for targeted interventions in areas where crime rates have consistently outpaced national trends.