Blackburn with Darwen’s crime rate has increased for the third consecutive month, it has been revealed.

Data from police.uk shows 1,693 crimes were committed in the borough in March, with violence and sexual offences again topping the list and coming in with a 12.39 per cent increase.

The overall total of crimes increased by 7.21 per cent from February, when there were 1,579 crimes committed.

READ MORE: Every crime in Blackburn with Darwen in February 2023 mapped

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

Of the 14 crimes listed in the data, there were eight increases, three decreases, and three stayed the same.

‘Other crime’ saw the biggest percentage increase, going up by 121.42 per cent from 14 instances to 31.

Vehicle crime saw the biggest decrease, dropping 26.66 per cent from 120 instances to 88.

The remaining crimes changed as follows:

  • Violence and sexual offences – 484 (Feb) – 544 (Mar) – up 12.39 per cent
  • Anti-social behaviour – 405 (Feb) – 466 (Mar) – up 15.06 per cent
  • Shoplifting – 146 (Feb) – 146 (Mar) – same
  • Criminal damage and arson – 126 (Feb) – 127 (Mar) – up 0.79 per cent
  • Other theft – 91 (Feb) – 82 (Mar) – down 9.89 per cent
  • Public order – 83 (Feb) – 76 (Mar) – down 8.43 per cent
  • Burglary – 40 (Feb) – 50 (Mar) – up 25 per cent
  • Drugs – 33 (Feb) – 33 (Mar) – same
  • Possession of weapons – 14 (Feb) – 22 (Mar) – up 57.14 per cent
  • Theft from person – 11 (Feb) – 15 (Mar) – up 36.36 per cent
  • Robbery – 10 (Feb) – 11 (Mar) – up 10 per cent
  • Bike theft – 2 (Feb) – 2 (Mar) same

All other borough in East Lancashire also reported increases in their crime rate, the biggest being Pendle’s increase from 657 crimes in February to 785 in March – a 19.48 per cent climb.

Rossendale’s increase was the next biggest, going up 19.32 per cent, following by Burnley which increased by 14.78 per cent.

READ MORE: Investigation after ‘numerous vehicles damaged’ in Blackburn

Finally, Ribble Valley posted a small increase, going up by 1.92 per cent from 260 crimes in February to 265 in March.

A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: "We are committed to preventing and responding to all crimes. We want residents to feel safe and understand we will do everything possible to trace criminals and take action against them.

"Lancashire Police continually strives to improve the way in which it works and bring offenders to justice.

"While there has been an increase in certain crimes, we believe this is due to an increase in confidence from victims that we will be able to help them, and we are now finding that more people are willing to come forward and report what has happened.

"We ask anyone who is the victim of a crime to report it to us."