Brierfield Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Brierfield's 'other crime' category stood out in November 2023, with a rate of 0.4 per 1,000 — 208% above the UK average. This category, which includes unclassified offences, saw a 400% month-on-month increase, reflecting a sharp rise from one reported incident to five. While the overall crime rate for the area (7.6 per 1,000) was 1.3% above the UK average, the distribution of crime types revealed local patterns. Violence and sexual offences (30 incidents, 33.3% of total crimes) remained the most common category, though their rate (2.5 per 1,000) was 3% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour (22 incidents, 24.4% of total) was another significant contributor, with its rate (1.9 per 1,000) 81% above the UK average. This spike may partly explain the area's slightly elevated overall rate, as anti-social behaviour often clusters in densely populated or socially mixed spaces. Seasonal factors may have played a role, with November’s dark evenings and Bonfire Night contributing to increased disturbances. However, the drop in shoplifting (67% fewer incidents than October) and burglary (33% fewer) suggests that Black Friday shopping activity may have been more concentrated earlier in the month, reducing later theft opportunities. The balance between property crimes (28 incidents, 31.1% of total) and violent crimes (30 incidents, 33.3%) indicates a relatively even split, which is consistent with Brierfield’s mixed land use — a built-up area within a rural district where both residential and commercial spaces coexist.

November 2023 saw a 400% increase in 'other crime', rising from one to five reported incidents. This category, which includes unclassified offences, was 208% above the UK average and may reflect underreported or complex incidents. Concurrently, drug-related crimes surged by 100%, jumping from zero to four incidents — a significant shift that could signal emerging local issues or increased police visibility. Vehicle crime also doubled (from three to six), linked to seasonal changes in parking patterns or heightened activity around local events. These increases contrasted with declines in anti-social behaviour (29% fewer incidents) and shoplifting (33% fewer), which may be attributable to the timing of Black Friday sales and the end of October’s school term. Violence and sexual offences (30 incidents) remained the most frequent category, but their rate (2.5 per 1,000) was 3% below the UK average, suggesting that Brierfield’s violent crime profile is slightly less severe than the national trend. Burglary (2 incidents) was 41% below the UK average, while shoplifting (2 incidents) was 64% below — a pattern that may reflect the area’s low retail density or effective local policing efforts in high-street areas.

Brierfield’s crime rate in November 2023 (7.6 per 1,000) was 5.3% lower than the previous month’s rate (8.0 per 1,000), indicating a modest decline over the short term. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of three crimes per day — a figure that, while not alarmingly high, underscores the persistent need for community vigilance. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate (one crime per 132 residents) highlights that every resident faces a small but tangible risk of being directly affected by crime. This figure, though seemingly low, becomes more meaningful when compared to the area’s demographic profile: as a built-up area within Pendle, Brierfield’s population of 11,904 includes a mix of long-term residents and transient workers, which may contribute to the fluctuating nature of crime statistics. The drop in the overall rate from October to November aligns with the seasonal context of the month — shorter days and colder weather may have discouraged outdoor activity, reducing opportunities for certain crimes. However, the sharp rise in 'other crime' and drug-related incidents suggests that some issues may be intensifying, warranting closer attention from local authorities and residents alike.