Burscough Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 9,631 residents, Burscough recorded 37 crimes in January 2024, equating to a crime rate of 3.8 per 1,000 people. This figure is 48.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently lower crime profile than the national benchmark. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 51.4% of the total (19 incidents), followed by anti-social behaviour (10 incidents, 27.0%) and other theft (2 incidents, 5.4%). These patterns align with Burscough's character as a small built-up area within West Lancashire, where community cohesion and limited urban density may contribute to lower rates of property crime. Seasonal factors also appear to influence the data: January, a post-holiday month with shorter days and reduced retail activity, saw fewer outdoor crimes than typical. The dominance of violent offences over property crimes suggests local dynamics such as social interactions in public spaces from this data alone. Violent crime in Burscough (2.0 per 1,000) is 23% below the UK average for this category, indicating a lower incidence of serious crimes compared to the national context. This contrast with the UK average may reflect Burscough's rural-adjacent setting, where community networks and lower population density could reduce opportunities for certain types of crime.

January 2024 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories compared to December 2023. Anti-social behaviour increased by 11.1% (from 9 to 10 incidents), while other crime and shoplifting both rose by 100% (from 0 to 1 incident each). These increases may reflect seasonal shifts, such as colder weather driving indoor gatherings that could exacerbate anti-social behaviour. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 80% (from 5 to 1 incident), and public order offences decreased by 50% (from 2 to 1). These declines could be linked to reduced outdoor activity during winter, though no direct causal connection is evident. The crime mix also shifted: violent offences (19 incidents) dominated the profile, making up 51.4% of total crimes, compared to property crimes (5 incidents, 13.5%). This imbalance is stark compared to the UK average, where property crimes typically account for a larger share. For residents, the 100% increase in shoplifting is a concrete data point—though only one incident occurred, it marks a new category in the January report. Violent crime in Burscough (2.0 per 1,000) remains 23% below the UK average for this category, suggesting local factors such as community policing or demographic characteristics may play a role in mitigating serious crime.

Burscough's crime rate in January 2024 (3.8 per 1,000) was 19.7% lower than the previous month's rate of 4.8 per 1,000, marking a continued downward trend. On a daily basis, this translates to roughly 1 crime reported per day over the 31-day period—a figure that, while seemingly high, is contextually modest for a small built-up area. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate of 1 crime per 260 residents provides a tangible measure of risk for local residents. This means that, on average, every 260 people in Burscough experienced a reported crime over the course of January. Comparing this to the UK average is complex, as national figures are not provided at the same granular level, but the overall rate of 3.8 per 1,000 is 48.6% below the UK average. This discrepancy may reflect Burscough's rural-adjacent nature, where lower population density and stronger community ties could reduce opportunities for certain crimes. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that, despite the 37 total crimes, the impact on individual residents is distributed across a relatively small population. For context, if the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000 were applied to Burscough's population, it would equate to over 70 crimes—nearly double the actual number recorded. This stark contrast underscores the unique characteristics of Burscough's crime profile compared to larger, more densely populated areas.