Crime in Accrington: statistics, rates and trends

5,517 crimes were recorded in Accrington in the 12 months to July 2026, 150.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 2,025 reports (37% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Accrington has the 63rd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Accrington was highest in the year to July 2018 (7,086 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (5,517). Over the whole period it fell 22%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Accrington 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, shoplifting.

The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+53%) and theft from the person (+25%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-27%) and robbery (-27%).

Violence and sexual offences in Accrington

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Accrington recorded 2,025 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (55.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 36.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Accrington

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Accrington recorded 1,232 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 22.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Accrington

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Accrington recorded 408 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Accrington

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Accrington recorded 362 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Accrington

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Accrington recorded 355 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Accrington

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Accrington recorded 318 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Accrington

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Accrington recorded 260 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Accrington

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Accrington recorded 164 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Accrington

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Accrington recorded 134 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Accrington

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Accrington recorded 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Accrington

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Accrington recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Accrington

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Accrington recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Accrington

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Accrington recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Accrington

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Accrington recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Accrington, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Accrington.

7 areas within Accrington, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Barnfield had the highest rate (244.6 per 1,000) and Baxenden the lowest (44.8). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Accrington over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Accrington 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.

Accrington has an estimated population of 36,582. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Accrington sits in decile 2.5, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Accrington. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.