Crime in West Pennine: statistics, rates and trends
355 crimes were recorded in West Pennine in the 12 months to July 2026, 47.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in West Pennine at a glance
- Crime trends in West Pennine
- Types of crime in West Pennine
- West Pennine compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Pennine
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Pennine
- Population and deprivation in West Pennine
- Questions about crime in West Pennine
- About this data
355 crimes were recorded in West Pennine in the 12 months to July 2026, 47.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 121 reports (34% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, West Pennine has the 3,143rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | West Pennine | Blackburn with Darwen | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 355 | 18,049 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 47.1 | 111.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 7,534 | 162,540 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in West Pennine was highest in the year to July 2021 (449 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (298). Over the whole period it fell 17%, 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 | 355 | 47.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 402 | 53.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 353 | 46.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 298 | 39.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 347 | 46.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 449 | 59.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 439 | 58.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 340 | 45.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 429 | 56.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 28 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 42 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 25 |
| January 2026 | 32 |
| December 2025 | 26 |
| November 2025 | 30 |
| October 2025 | 26 |
| September 2025 | 22 |
| August 2025 | 37 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Pennine 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. The largest increases were in burglary (+45%). The largest falls were in public order (-42%) and other theft (-32%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 121 | 16.1 | 0.47 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 92 | 12.2 | 0.80 | -25% |
| Burglary | 32 | 4.2 | 1.20 | +45% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 32 | 4.2 | 0.63 | -11% |
| Other theft | 23 | 3.1 | 0.48 | -32% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 2.7 | 0.54 | -20% |
| Public order | 15 | 2.0 | 0.30 | -42% |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.8 | 0.38 | -50% |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.7 | 0.20 | -38% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.4 | 0.41 | +50% |
| Shoplifting | 3 | 0.4 | 0.05 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.3 | 0.20 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in West Pennine
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Pennine recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 34.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in West Pennine
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Pennine recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 25.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in West Pennine
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Pennine recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 45% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in West Pennine
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Pennine recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in West Pennine
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Pennine recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in West Pennine
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Pennine recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in West Pennine
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Pennine recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in West Pennine
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Pennine recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in West Pennine
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Pennine recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in West Pennine
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Pennine recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in West Pennine
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Pennine recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in West Pennine
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Pennine recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in West Pennine
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Pennine 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 with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to West Pennine, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Pennine.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Pennine |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darwen South | 598 | 61.9 | +31% |
| Darwen East | 1,408 | 131.4 | +179% |
| Darwen West | 984 | 125.7 | +167% |
| Blackburn South & Lower Darwen | 703 | 73.6 | +56% |
| Blackburn South East | 1,177 | 147.7 | +213% |
| Ewood | 1,214 | 131.5 | +179% |
| Audley & Queen's Park | 1,613 | 142.1 | +202% |
| Mill Hill & Moorgate | 1,181 | 147.7 | +213% |
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 West Pennine over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Bolton Road | 26 |
| On or near Parking Area | 16 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 14 |
| On or near Hollinshead Terrace | 12 |
| On or near Blackburn Road | 10 |
| On or near Haworth Street | 10 |
| On or near Knowlesly Meadows | 10 |
| On or near Knowsley Lane | 10 |
| On or near Bank Fold Lane | 9 |
| On or near Belthorn Road | 9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Pennine 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Not recorded | 92 | 25.9% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 91 | 25.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 90 | 25.4% |
| Under investigation | 28 | 7.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 5.1% |
| Local resolution | 17 | 4.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 11 | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 1 | 0.3% |
West Pennine has an estimated population of 7,534. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Pennine sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | West Pennine |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 86.9% |
| Social rented homes | 1.9% |
| Private rented homes | 11.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is West Pennine a safe place to live?
West Pennine recorded 47.1 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 West Pennine?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (92).
Is crime in West Pennine going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Pennine was down 12% on the year before: 355 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 402 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers West Pennine?
West Pennine 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 West Pennine. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.