The crime rate in Blackburn with Darwen has increased for the second month running in February 2023, it has been revealed.

Data from police.uk shows 1,579 crimes were committed in the borough in February, with violence and sexual offences topping the list once again, despite a slight decrease from the previous month.

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The overall total of crimes has increased by 7.26 per cent from January, when there were 1,472 crimes committed.

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, there were 10 increases and four decreases.

Theft from person saw the biggest percentage increase, going up by 266.66 per cent from three in January to 11 in February.

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Bike theft halved from four to two between the two months, posing the biggest percentage decrease, while other crime also decreased significantly by 48.14 per cent.

The remaining crimes changed as follows:

  • Violence and sexual offences – 535 (Jan) – 484 (Feb) – down 9.53 per cent
  • Anti-social behaviour – 368 (Jan) – 405 (Feb) – up 10.05 per cent
  • Shoplifting – 93 (Jan) – 146 (Feb) – up 56.98 per cent
  • Criminal damage and arson – 112 (Jan) – 126 (Feb) – up 12.5 per cent
  • Vehicle crime – 99 (Jan) – 120 (Feb) – up 21.21 per cent
  • Other theft – 89 (Jan) – 91 (Feb) – up 2.24 per cent
  • Public order – 61 (Jan) – 83 (Feb) – up 36.06 per cent
  • Burglary – 34 (Jan) – 40 (Feb) – up 17.64 per cent
  • Drugs - 27 (Jan) – 33 (Feb) – up 22.22 per cent
  • Possession of weapons – 16 (Jan) – 14 (Feb) – down 12.5 per cent
  • Robbery – 4 (Jan) – 10 (Feb) – up 150 per cent

Two of the other boroughs in East Lancs also reported increases, with Pendle’s crime rate going up by 4.12 per cent and Ribble Valley’s increasing by 4.43 per cent.

Meanwhile, Burnley dropped by 7.04 per cent, Hyndburn went down by 4.03 per cent, and Rossendale’s crime rate decreased by 5.81 per cent.