Crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen: statistics, rates and trends
708 crimes were recorded in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen in the 12 months to August 2026, 74.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- Questions about crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (299), anti-social behaviour (132) and criminal damage and arson (62) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,059th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Blackburn South & Lower Darwen | Blackburn with Darwen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 708 | 17,854 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 74.1 | 109.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -9% | -1% |
| Population | 9,557 | 162,540 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen peaked in the year to August 2025 (846 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (673). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 12%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 708 | 74.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 846 | 88.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 673 | 70.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 787 | 82.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 709 | 74.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 840 | 87.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 835 | 87.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 731 | 76.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 808 | 84.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 69 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded notably more other crime (68% above the national rate), and notably less other theft (40% below) and public order (39% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 27 to 34, while anti-social behaviour fell from 278 to 132 and other theft fell from 60 to 37.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 299 | 31.3 | 34.2 | +14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 132 | 13.8 | 15.4 | -53% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 62 | 6.5 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 47 | 4.9 | 5.0 | -20% |
| Public order | 39 | 4.1 | 6.7 | -20% |
| Other theft | 37 | 3.9 | 6.4 | -38% |
| Other crime | 34 | 3.6 | 2.1 | +26% |
| Drugs | 18 | 1.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 15 | 1.6 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Burglary | 14 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Blackburn South & Lower Darwen.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blackburn South & Lower Darwen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ewood | 1,172 | 127.0 | +71% |
| Blackburn South East | 1,157 | 145.2 | +96% |
| Mill Hill & Moorgate | 1,157 | 144.7 | +95% |
| Blackburn Central | 3,329 | 259.6 | +250% |
| Darwen East | 1,386 | 129.4 | +75% |
| Darwen West | 949 | 121.2 | +64% |
| Audley & Queen's Park | 1,632 | 143.8 | +94% |
| Wensley Fold | 947 | 96.8 | +31% |
The 10 locations below account for 42% of the crime recorded in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Levens Close” and “M65” (57 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Levens Close | 57 |
| On or near M65 | 57 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 42 |
| On or near Finsbury Place | 24 |
| On or near Ravenglass Close | 24 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 24 |
| On or near Flimby Close | 23 |
| On or near B6231 | 16 |
| On or near Carnforth Close | 16 |
| On or near New Meadow Close | 16 |
Of the 576 crimes in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen with a recorded outcome, 21% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 132 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 260 | 45.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 122 | 21.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 73 | 12.7% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 43 | 7.5% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 23 | 4.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 20 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 1.9% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 2 | 0.3% | 0.1% |
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen has an estimated population of 9,557 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (14%, against 23%), a younger population (11%, against 19%) and less social housing (11%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Blackburn South & Lower Darwen average decile 6.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Blackburn South & Lower Darwen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 68.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 31.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 14.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 76.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 10.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 12.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 21.4% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Blackburn South & Lower Darwen a safe place to live?
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen recorded 74.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,059th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime.
What is the most common crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 299 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (132).
Is crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blackburn South & Lower Darwen was down 16% on the year before: 708 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 846 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Blackburn South & Lower Darwen?
About 9,557 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 11% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Blackburn South & Lower Darwen?
Blackburn South & Lower Darwen is policed by Lancashire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.