Crime in Wensley Fold: statistics, rates and trends
972 crimes were recorded in Wensley Fold in the 12 months to July 2026, 99.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Wensley Fold at a glance
- Crime trends in Wensley Fold
- Types of crime in Wensley Fold
- Wensley Fold compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Wensley Fold
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wensley Fold
- Population and deprivation in Wensley Fold
- Questions about crime in Wensley Fold
- About this data
972 crimes were recorded in Wensley Fold in the 12 months to July 2026, 99.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 393 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Wensley Fold has the 1,254th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Wensley Fold | Blackburn with Darwen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 972 | 18,049 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 99.4 | 111.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 9,781 | 162,540 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Wensley Fold was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,470 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (915). Over the whole period it fell 24%, 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 | 972 | 99.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,037 | 106.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 971 | 99.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 915 | 93.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,155 | 118.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,423 | 145.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,301 | 133.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,470 | 150.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,274 | 130.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 107 |
| June 2026 | 85 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 72 |
| March 2026 | 80 |
| February 2026 | 70 |
| January 2026 | 60 |
| December 2025 | 78 |
| November 2025 | 66 |
| October 2025 | 92 |
| September 2025 | 83 |
| August 2025 | 102 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Wensley Fold 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 anti-social behaviour, other crime, possession of weapons.
The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+27%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-17%) and vehicle crime (-16%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 393 | 40.2 | 1.17 | -7% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 248 | 25.4 | 1.65 | -17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 62 | 6.3 | 0.93 | +27% |
| Other theft | 56 | 5.7 | 0.90 | -5% |
| Public order | 51 | 5.2 | 0.78 | +2% |
| Vehicle crime | 42 | 4.3 | 0.87 | -16% |
| Other crime | 31 | 3.2 | 1.50 | +0% |
| Drugs | 25 | 2.6 | 0.78 | +56% |
| Burglary | 24 | 2.5 | 0.69 | -11% |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 1.2 | 1.26 | +100% |
| Shoplifting | 11 | 1.1 | 0.14 | -27% |
| Robbery | 8 | 0.8 | 0.61 | -20% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.5 | 0.62 | +400% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.4 | 0.24 | +300% |
Violence and sexual offences in Wensley Fold
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wensley Fold recorded 393 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 40.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Wensley Fold
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wensley Fold recorded 248 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 25.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Wensley Fold
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wensley Fold recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Wensley Fold
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wensley Fold recorded 56 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 down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Wensley Fold
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wensley Fold recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Wensley Fold
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wensley Fold recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Wensley Fold
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wensley Fold recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Wensley Fold
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wensley Fold recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Wensley Fold
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wensley Fold recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Wensley Fold
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wensley Fold recorded 12 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 100% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Wensley Fold
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wensley Fold recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Wensley Fold
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wensley Fold recorded 8 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 20% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Wensley Fold
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wensley Fold recorded 5 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 400% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Wensley Fold
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wensley Fold recorded 4 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 up 300% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Wensley Fold, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Wensley Fold.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wensley Fold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shear Brow & Corporation Park | 1,233 | 132.5 | +33% |
| Billinge & Beardwood | 394 | 40.1 | -60% |
| Blackburn Central | 3,381 | 263.6 | +165% |
| Mill Hill & Moorgate | 1,181 | 147.7 | +49% |
| Ewood | 1,214 | 131.5 | +32% |
| Bastwell & Daisyfield | 577 | 60.5 | -39% |
| Roe Lee | 683 | 68.7 | -31% |
| Audley & Queen's Park | 1,613 | 142.1 | +43% |
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 Wensley Fold over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 71 |
| On or near Adelaide Terrace | 70 |
| On or near Cheltenham Road | 46 |
| On or near Hope Street | 42 |
| On or near Heyhurst Road | 40 |
| On or near Granville Road | 35 |
| On or near Rolleston Road | 32 |
| On or near Alma Street | 26 |
| On or near Pleasington Close | 24 |
| On or near Lancaster Place | 22 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wensley Fold 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 | 308 | 31.7% |
| Not recorded | 248 | 25.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 187 | 19.2% |
| Under investigation | 89 | 9.2% |
| Local resolution | 58 | 6.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 25 | 2.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24 | 2.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 1.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Wensley Fold has an estimated population of 9,781. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wensley Fold sits in decile 1.4, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Wensley Fold |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 25.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 55.1% |
| Social rented homes | 15.9% |
| Private rented homes | 28.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.4 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 61.0% |
Is Wensley Fold a safe place to live?
Wensley Fold recorded 99.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Wensley Fold?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 393 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (248).
Is crime in Wensley Fold going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wensley Fold was down 6% on the year before: 972 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,037 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Wensley Fold?
Wensley Fold 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 Wensley Fold. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.