Crime in Bacup: statistics, rates and trends
1,735 crimes were recorded in Bacup in the 12 months to July 2026, 116.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
1,735 crimes were recorded in Bacup in the 12 months to July 2026, 116.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 11% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 701 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bacup has the 198th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bacup | Rossendale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,735 | 6,452 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 116.6 | 88.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -11% | -8% | -1% |
| Population | 14,885 | 73,045 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bacup was highest in the year to July 2024 (2,049 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (1,678). Over the whole period it fell 9%, 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 | 1,735 | 116.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,943 | 130.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,049 | 137.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,678 | 112.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,797 | 120.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,994 | 134.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,909 | 128.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,889 | 126.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,897 | 127.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 159 |
| June 2026 | 149 |
| May 2026 | 140 |
| April 2026 | 181 |
| March 2026 | 144 |
| February 2026 | 102 |
| January 2026 | 155 |
| December 2025 | 135 |
| November 2025 | 115 |
| October 2025 | 141 |
| September 2025 | 158 |
| August 2025 | 156 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bacup 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 other theft (+20%) and shoplifting (+20%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-45%) and vehicle crime (-32%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 701 | 47.1 | 1.38 | +14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 349 | 23.4 | 1.53 | -45% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 167 | 11.2 | 1.65 | -16% |
| Other theft | 109 | 7.3 | 1.15 | +20% |
| Shoplifting | 98 | 6.6 | 0.79 | +20% |
| Public order | 87 | 5.8 | 0.88 | +7% |
| Burglary | 63 | 4.2 | 1.20 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 50 | 3.4 | 0.68 | -32% |
| Other crime | 42 | 2.8 | 1.34 | -11% |
| Drugs | 32 | 2.1 | 0.66 | +14% |
| Possession of weapons | 14 | 0.9 | 0.97 | -7% |
| Robbery | 14 | 0.9 | 0.70 | +8% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.4 | 0.24 | +500% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.24 | -62% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bacup
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bacup recorded 701 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (47.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 40.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bacup
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bacup recorded 349 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.4 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 Bacup
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bacup recorded 167 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bacup
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bacup recorded 109 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bacup
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bacup recorded 98 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bacup
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bacup recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bacup
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bacup recorded 63 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 9% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bacup
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bacup recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bacup
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bacup recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bacup
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bacup recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bacup
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bacup recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bacup
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bacup recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bacup
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bacup recorded 6 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 500% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bacup
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bacup recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Bacup, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bacup.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bacup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rawtenstall | 1,658 | 80.0 | -31% |
| Whitworth | 629 | 99.5 | -15% |
| Todmorden | 1,360 | 99.5 | -15% |
| Haslingden | 1,231 | 73.5 | -37% |
| Burnley | 12,326 | 147.0 | +26% |
| Accrington | 5,517 | 150.8 | +29% |
| Padiham | 1,549 | 139.7 | +20% |
| Oswaldtwistle | 1,120 | 122.8 | +5% |
2 areas within Bacup, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bacup had the highest rate (122.3 per 1,000) and Britannia & Lee Mill the lowest (103.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacup | Neighbourhood | 7,050 | 862 | 122.3 |
| Britannia & Lee Mill | Neighbourhood | 7,171 | 740 | 103.2 |
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 Bacup over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hammerton Green | 66 |
| On or near Mill Stream Close | 59 |
| On or near Supermarket | 55 |
| On or near Ashworth Street | 42 |
| On or near Britannia Avenue | 35 |
| On or near A681 | 30 |
| On or near Crabtree Avenue | 29 |
| On or near Kershaw Street | 29 |
| On or near Union Street | 28 |
| On or near Yorkshire Street | 26 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bacup 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 | 633 | 36.5% |
| Not recorded | 349 | 20.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 340 | 19.6% |
| Under investigation | 121 | 7.0% |
| Local resolution | 94 | 5.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 68 | 3.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 57 | 3.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 22 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 19 | 1.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 17 | 1.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 0.6% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 3 | 0.2% |
Bacup has an estimated population of 14,885. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bacup sits in decile 2.8, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bacup |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.9% |
| Social rented homes | 19.2% |
| Private rented homes | 19.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.8 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 31.5% |
Is Bacup a safe place to live?
Bacup recorded 116.6 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 Bacup?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 701 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (349).
Is crime in Bacup going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bacup was down 11% on the year before: 1,735 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,943 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bacup?
Bacup 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 Bacup. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.