Crime in Blackburn with Darwen: statistics, rates and trends

18,049 crimes were recorded in Blackburn with Darwen in the 12 months to July 2026, 111.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 6,981 reports (39% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Blackburn with Darwen has the 67th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Blackburn with Darwen was highest in the year to July 2021 (24,178 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (18,049). Over the whole period it fell 21%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Blackburn with Darwen over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, other crime.

The largest increases were in drugs (+23%) and bicycle theft (+16%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-32%) and vehicle crime (-20%).

Violence and sexual offences in Blackburn with Darwen

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 6,981 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (42.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 38.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Blackburn with Darwen

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 3,843 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 21.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Blackburn with Darwen

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 1,328 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Blackburn with Darwen

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 1,102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Blackburn with Darwen

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 1,009 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Blackburn with Darwen

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 941 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Blackburn with Darwen

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 893 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Blackburn with Darwen

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 543 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Blackburn with Darwen

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 496 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Blackburn with Darwen

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 470 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Blackburn with Darwen

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 202 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Blackburn with Darwen

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 127 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Blackburn with Darwen

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Blackburn with Darwen

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Blackburn with Darwen recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Blackburn with Darwen, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Blackburn with Darwen.

21 areas within Blackburn with Darwen, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Blackburn Central had the highest rate (263.6 per 1,000) and Edgworth the lowest (35.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Blackburn with Darwen over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Blackburn with Darwen over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Blackburn with Darwen has an estimated population of 162,540. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Blackburn with Darwen sits in decile 3.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Blackburn with Darwen. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.