Accrington Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Accrington's crime rate in January 2024 stood at 14.1 per 1,000, placing the area 90.5% above the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This stark deviation from national norms underscores the area's elevated crime profile, which is characterised by a heavy concentration of violent and anti-social incidents. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 33% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (26.2%) and criminal damage and arson (8.2%). These figures reflect a pattern where property and violent crimes dominate, a trend consistent with urban areas facing socio-economic pressures. The seasonal context of January—marked by post-holiday periods, reduced retail footfall, and shorter daylight hours—may have contributed to the elevated rates of violent crime, as outdoor activities decline and indoor spaces become more crowded. Anti-social behaviour, in particular, is 274% above the UK average, potentially linked to the area's built-up nature and the density of population in a relatively small geographic footprint. While the overall rate is significantly higher than the national average, the breakdown of crime types illustrates a combination of local factors, including the presence of high-risk areas and the potential for seasonal fluctuations to amplify existing vulnerabilities. The dominance of violent crime over property crime in this month may also indicate a shift in criminal priorities, influenced by the area's demographic makeup or the presence of transient populations.

The month-on-month increase in overall crime rate (16.1%) was driven by sharp rises in specific categories. Possession of weapons surged by 200%, with three incidents reported in January compared to one in December, raising concerns about local safety. Similarly, theft from the person and bicycle theft each doubled, with one and three cases respectively. These spikes may reflect post-holiday disruptions or targeted criminal activity. In contrast, other thefts fell by 24%, and public order offences decreased by 11.5%, suggesting some areas of the crime profile may be stabilising. Violent crimes, which accounted for 33% of all incidents, remain 81% above the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), while anti-social behaviour is 274% above the national rate (1.0 per 1,000). This divergence from UK norms highlights the area's distinct challenges. For residents, the 200% increase in weapon possession is a stark indicator of potential risks in public spaces.

Accrington's crime rate rose to 14.1 per 1,000 in January 2024, a 16.1% increase from December's 12.2 per 1,000. This upward trend aligns with the area's historically higher crime rates compared to the UK average. Daily crime figures show 17 incidents per day, a local metric that highlights the consistent presence of crime in the built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 71 residents—a monthly exposure rate that underscores the frequency of incidents relative to the population of 36,258. This figure, while not directly comparable to UK-wide statistics, reflects the concentrated nature of crime in Accrington. The population-scaled perspective reveals that residents face a higher risk of encountering crime than the national average, particularly in property and violent crime categories. The increase in daily crime counts may indicate a shift in criminal activity patterns, though further analysis would be required to determine the exact causes.