Blackburn with Darwen saw an increase in the number of crimes committed in January 2023 compared to the previous month, it has been revealed.

Data from police.uk shows 1,472 crimes were committed in the borough in the first month of the year, ranging from violence and sexual offences to burglary to criminal damage and arson.

This is an increase of 9.11 per cent from December 2022, when there were 1,349 crimes committed.

READ MORE: Blackburn with Darwen sees crime rate drop in final month of 2022

Despite this, it has still not reached the level of November 2022, when there were 1,525 crimes – a difference of 3.47 per cent.

Using the data, we were able to map exactly where each crime took place within the borough and determine how many instances of each crime there was.

Of the 14 crimes listed in the data, nine saw increases, four saw decreases, and one stayed the same.

Possession of weapons saw the biggest percentage increase, doubling from 8 in December to 16 in January.

The biggest decrease was in robbery, dropping by 42.85 per cent from seven in December to four in January.

The remaining crimes changed as follows:

  • Violence and sexual offences – 472 (Dec) – 535 (Jan) – up 13.34 per cent
  • Anti-social behaviour – 367 (Dec) – 368 (Jan) – up 0.27 per cent
  • Criminal damage and arson – 105 (Dec) – 112 (Jan) – up 6.66 per cent
  • Vehicle crime – 67 (Dec) – 99 (Jan) – up 47.7 per cent
  • Shoplifting – 67 (Dec) – 93 (Jan) – up 38.80 per cent
  • Other theft – 87 (Dec) – 89 (Jan) – up 2.29 per cent
  • Public order – 68 (Dec) – 61 (Jan) - down 10.29 per cent
  • Burglary – 54 (Dec) – 34 (Jan) – down 37.03 per cent
  • Drugs – 18 (Dec) – 27 (Jan) – up 50 per cent
  • Other crime – 17 (Dec) – 27 (Jan) – up 58.82 per cent
  • Bike theft – 4 (Dec) – 4 (Jan) – Equal
  • Theft from person – 5 (Dec) – 3 (Jan) – down 40 per cent

 

Roughly the same pattern was followed across East Lancs, with three of the remaining five boroughs reporting increases.

Burnley’s crime rate went up by 5.40 per cent, Hyndburn by 13 per cent and Rossendale by 4.61 per cent. Pendle and Ribble Valley dropped by 5.97 per cent and 2.74 per cent respectively.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We recognise there is a victim behind every crime and work closely with partners to reduce the causes of crime and ensure Lancashire remains a safe place to live, work and visit. When offences are committed our officers work tirelessly to identify the perpetrators and put them before the courts.

"We also regularly study crime patters to ensure we have the right resources in the right places at the right times.

"To report a crime go to https://doitonline.lancashire.police.uk/ or call 101. In an emergency or if a crime is in progress always call 999."