Crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen: statistics, rates and trends
703 crimes were recorded in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen at a glance
- Crime trends in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- Types of crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- Blackburn South & Lower Darwen compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- What happened after crimes were reported in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- Population and deprivation in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- Questions about crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- About this data
703 crimes were recorded in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 15% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 285 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Blackburn South & Lower Darwen has the 2,080th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Blackburn South & Lower Darwen | Blackburn with Darwen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 703 | 18,049 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.6 | 111.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -15% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 9,557 | 162,540 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen was highest in the year to July 2021 (874 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (675). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 703 | 73.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 827 | 86.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 675 | 70.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 802 | 83.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 688 | 72.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 874 | 91.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 812 | 85.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 753 | 78.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 791 | 82.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 68 |
| June 2026 | 58 |
| May 2026 | 61 |
| April 2026 | 49 |
| March 2026 | 50 |
| February 2026 | 48 |
| January 2026 | 47 |
| December 2025 | 55 |
| November 2025 | 71 |
| October 2025 | 72 |
| September 2025 | 60 |
| August 2025 | 64 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Blackburn South & Lower 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 other crime.
The largest increases were in other crime (+32%) and criminal damage and arson (+13%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-47%) and other theft (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 285 | 29.8 | 0.87 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 140 | 14.6 | 0.95 | -47% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 62 | 6.5 | 0.96 | +13% |
| Vehicle crime | 46 | 4.8 | 0.98 | -21% |
| Other theft | 42 | 4.4 | 0.69 | -24% |
| Public order | 39 | 4.1 | 0.61 | -7% |
| Other crime | 33 | 3.5 | 1.64 | +32% |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.8 | 0.54 | +21% |
| Shoplifting | 15 | 1.6 | 0.19 | -21% |
| Burglary | 14 | 1.5 | 0.41 | -22% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 0.65 | +50% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.25 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | -67% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.06 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 285 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 40.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 140 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 19.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Blackburn South & Lower Darwen, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Blackburn South & Lower Darwen.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blackburn South & Lower Darwen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ewood | 1,214 | 131.5 | +79% |
| Blackburn South East | 1,177 | 147.7 | +101% |
| Mill Hill & Moorgate | 1,181 | 147.7 | +101% |
| Blackburn Central | 3,381 | 263.6 | +258% |
| Darwen East | 1,408 | 131.4 | +79% |
| Darwen West | 984 | 125.7 | +71% |
| Audley & Queen's Park | 1,613 | 142.1 | +93% |
| Wensley Fold | 972 | 99.4 | +35% |
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 South & Lower Darwen over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Levens Close | 59 |
| On or near M65 | 56 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 43 |
| On or near Finsbury Place | 28 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 27 |
| On or near Ravenglass Close | 25 |
| On or near Flimby Close | 24 |
| On or near Carnforth Close | 19 |
| On or near New Meadow Close | 18 |
| On or near B6231 | 17 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Blackburn South & Lower 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 260 | 37.0% |
| Not recorded | 140 | 19.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 124 | 17.6% |
| Under investigation | 66 | 9.4% |
| Local resolution | 41 | 5.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 22 | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 1.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen has an estimated population of 9,557. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Blackburn South & Lower Darwen |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 76.3% |
| Social rented homes | 10.8% |
| Private rented homes | 12.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 21.4% |
Is Blackburn South & Lower Darwen a safe place to live?
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 73.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 285 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (140).
Is crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen was down 15% on the year before: 703 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 827 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Blackburn South & Lower Darwen?
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen is policed by Lancashire. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 South & Lower Darwen. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.