Accrington Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

December 2024 saw an unexpected 70.6% surge in 'other theft' crimes in Accrington, a built-up area within Hyndburn. This sharp rise in property-related thefts, which now account for 6.2% of total crimes, contrasts with the area's usual seasonal patterns. The overall crime rate of 13.0 per 1,000 residents — 83.1% above the UK average — highlights persistent challenges in this mid-sized town. Violence and sexual offences (35.3% of total crimes) and anti-social behaviour (27.0%) dominate the crime picture, both significantly outpacing national averages by 80% and 272% respectively. These figures are consistent with the area's character as a commuter hub with mixed residential and retail zones, where public order issues often escalate during December's peak shopping season and extended dark evenings. The 13.0 per 1,000 rate is the highest in the region for this period, likely reflecting the combination of seasonal pressures and the town's limited public space for informal socialisation. While shoplifting (8.5%) and criminal damage (7.5%) align with retail-heavy areas, the disproportionate rise in 'other theft' suggests a shift in criminal tactics, possibly exploiting holiday-related disruptions in household security.

The most striking change in December 2024 was a 70.6% increase in 'other theft' crimes, rising from 17 to 29 incidents. This jump, which outpaces the 12.2% rise in violence and sexual offences, suggests evolving tactics among offenders. Anti-social behaviour (27.0% of total crimes) remains the second most common category, 272% above the UK average, with its persistence likely tied to the area's dense housing stock and limited informal meeting spaces during winter. Conversely, possession of weapons fell by 83.3% (from 6 to 1), a drop that may reflect seasonal changes in public activity patterns. Vehicle crime remained exactly in line with the UK average (0.4 per 1,000), offering a rare point of parity for this built-up area. Residents may find the 25% increase in drug-related crimes (from 9 to 11) particularly concerning, as this category now accounts for 2.3% of all reported incidents. The data also shows that theft from the person — typically a concern in tourist areas — fell 50% below the UK average, a trend linked to the town's limited visitor numbers during the holiday season.

Accrington's crime rate in December 2024 remained stable compared to November, with only a 0.5% decrease from 13.0 to 13.0 per 1,000 residents. This consistency contrasts with the 83.1% gap to the UK average, which persists despite the month's usual seasonal fluctuations. Locally, the 15 crimes reported per day (470 total over 31 days) equates to one reported crime for every 77 residents over the course of the month — a figure that underscores the area's relative vulnerability compared to national benchmarks. When viewed through a population-scaled lens, the 36,258 residents of Accrington experienced a crime rate 83.1% higher than the UK's 7.1 per 1,000, with violent crimes alone contributing 35.3% of the total burden. This disparity is most stark in anti-social behaviour, which is 272% above the UK average, suggesting that local factors — such as the town's compact layout and reliance on public transport — may amplify the impact of such incidents. While the overall rate has not changed month-on-month, the 70.6% spike in 'other theft' indicates that certain crime types are intensifying, potentially driven by the holiday season's unique dynamics in this built-up area.