Crime in Darwen West: statistics, rates and trends
984 crimes were recorded in Darwen West in the 12 months to July 2026, 125.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Darwen West at a glance
- Crime trends in Darwen West
- Types of crime in Darwen West
- Darwen West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Darwen West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Darwen West
- Population and deprivation in Darwen West
- Questions about crime in Darwen West
- About this data
984 crimes were recorded in Darwen West in the 12 months to July 2026, 125.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 13% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 423 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Darwen West has the 746th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Darwen West | Blackburn with Darwen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 984 | 18,049 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 125.7 | 111.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -13% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 7,830 | 162,540 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Darwen West was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,725 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (984). Over the whole period it fell 36%, 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 | 984 | 125.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,137 | 145.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,137 | 145.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,370 | 175.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,725 | 220.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,391 | 177.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,637 | 209.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,539 | 196.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,527 | 195.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 87 |
| June 2026 | 70 |
| May 2026 | 92 |
| April 2026 | 83 |
| March 2026 | 88 |
| February 2026 | 53 |
| January 2026 | 76 |
| December 2025 | 99 |
| November 2025 | 92 |
| October 2025 | 74 |
| September 2025 | 63 |
| August 2025 | 107 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Darwen West 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, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in drugs (+10%). The largest falls were in burglary (-58%) and anti-social behaviour (-45%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 423 | 54.0 | 1.58 | +8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 198 | 25.3 | 1.65 | -45% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 69 | 8.8 | 1.30 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 57 | 7.3 | 0.88 | -8% |
| Vehicle crime | 52 | 6.6 | 1.35 | +8% |
| Public order | 47 | 6.0 | 0.90 | -22% |
| Other theft | 45 | 5.7 | 0.90 | +10% |
| Drugs | 33 | 4.2 | 1.29 | +10% |
| Other crime | 23 | 2.9 | 1.39 | +53% |
| Burglary | 16 | 2.0 | 0.58 | -58% |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 1.1 | 1.18 | -40% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.6 | 0.47 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.5 | 0.62 | +300% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.4 | 0.23 | -40% |
Violence and sexual offences in Darwen West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Darwen West recorded 423 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (54.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 43.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Darwen West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Darwen West recorded 198 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 20.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Darwen West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Darwen West recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Darwen West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Darwen West recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Darwen West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Darwen West recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Darwen West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Darwen West recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Darwen West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Darwen West recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Darwen West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Darwen West recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Darwen West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Darwen West recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Darwen West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Darwen West recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 58% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Darwen West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Darwen West recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Darwen West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Darwen West recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Darwen West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Darwen West recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Darwen West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Darwen West recorded 3 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 40% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Darwen West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Darwen West.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Darwen West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwen East | 1,408 | 131.4 | +5% |
| Darwen South | 598 | 61.9 | -51% |
| Blackburn South & Lower Darwen | 703 | 73.6 | -41% |
| Ewood | 1,214 | 131.5 | +5% |
| Blackburn South East | 1,177 | 147.7 | +18% |
| Mill Hill & Moorgate | 1,181 | 147.7 | +17% |
| Livesey with Pleasington | 541 | 57.6 | -54% |
| Blackburn Central | 3,381 | 263.6 | +110% |
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 Darwen West over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Church Bank Street | 83 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 69 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 67 |
| On or near Parking Area | 60 |
| On or near Victoria Street | 44 |
| On or near Arch Street | 42 |
| On or near Bank Bottom | 34 |
| On or near Green Street East | 24 |
| On or near James Street | 22 |
| On or near Hodder Grove | 19 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Darwen West 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 | 283 | 28.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 239 | 24.3% |
| Not recorded | 198 | 20.1% |
| Under investigation | 83 | 8.4% |
| Local resolution | 75 | 7.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 33 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 26 | 2.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 24 | 2.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
Darwen West has an estimated population of 7,830. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Darwen West sits in decile 3.7, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Darwen West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.0% |
| Social rented homes | 15.2% |
| Private rented homes | 21.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.7 |
Is Darwen West a safe place to live?
Darwen West recorded 125.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Darwen West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 423 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (198).
Is crime in Darwen West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Darwen West was down 13% on the year before: 984 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,137 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Darwen West?
Darwen West 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 Darwen West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.