Newsroom

12 March 2026

New Community Safety Plan to build on falling crime rates

Blackpool Council is set to approve a new community safety plan to build on falling crime rates across the town.

Police officers walking along the promenade in Blackpool
Police officers walking along the promenade in Blackpool
String richText

A new community safety plan to build on falling crime rates in Blackpool is set to be approved by the council.

It comes as Lancashire Constabulary figures show anti-social behaviour rates in Blackpool fell back by 5.5% last year, following joint work between the council and police to prevent crime.

Rates of all crimes dropped by 0.5% between 2024-25, with figures for anti-social behaviour dropping by 16% in the same period, and by a further 5.5% in 2025.

Now Blackpool Council is set to agree the Blackpool Community Safety Plan for 2026-29 at an Executive meeting on March 16. This sets priorities based on community feedback and the latest crime figures. The renewed CSP will continue a public health approach to preventing and tracking crime, by working to address the root causes of crime, rather than relying solely on law enforcement.

It has been developed and produced by Blackpool’s Community Safety Partnership. Led by Blackpool Council, the partnership brings together professionals from Lancashire Police, National Probation Service, Blackpool Teaching Hospital, Lancashire Fire and Rescue and North West Ambulance services, Blackpool Coastal Housing, and other public and third sector providers.

Quote quote
Cllr Paula Burdess, cabinet member for community safety, street scene and neighbourhoods, said: “We all want the same things for Blackpool - for everyone who lives, works or visits here to feel safe, and for crime or anti-social behaviour to be the exception, not the norm. Our crime rates are slightly skewed because the statistics don’t account for the volumes of visitors we have every year compared to other areas of the country. By recognising that crime is ‘preventable, not inevitable’ and working closely with our partners we can prevent, detect and disrupt crime and disorder. We’re doing a good job and the police tell us crime is falling, but we need to build on that to ensure people feel safer too. We understand that it’s not just crime and disorder that affect communities and peoples’ quality of life, but fear of crime too. We want our communities to have confidence in each other and in the agencies trusted with public safety.”
String richText

Strategies to be put in place or continued under the CSP include:

  • Identifying ‘hot spots’ for anti-social behaviour and working with businesses to put preventative measures in place – for example, ‘designing out’ problem areas and improving lighting across the town centre;
  • Using early intervention to support people before issues escalate – for example, working with vulnerable families or adults to prevent exploitation or mental health related harm;
  • Offering diversion programmes, outreach and mentoring to prevent youth violence or gang-related activity;
  • Using intelligence-led policing and community engagement to disrupt serious organised crime, such as drug trafficking.
Quote quote
West Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Hassan Khan said: “Our strong partnership with Blackpool Council is central to delivering the 2026–2029 Community Safety Plan. Together, we’re committed to putting in place initiatives that genuinely improve the lives of Blackpool’s residents and visitors. Through our existing operations, such as Centurion and Vulture, we’ve already taken firm and targeted action against the issues highlighted in the plan, from tackling anti-social behaviour to reducing violent crime and shop thefts. This success is evident in positive drop in ASB rates in 2025. In addition, we have seen a 17% reduction in shoplifting offences over the last two months, when compared to the same time last year. We look forward to building on this work alongside Blackpool Council to keep driving positive, lasting change.”
String richText

The 2026-29 CSP has been drawn up using feedback from communities, local businesses and key stakeholders, along with crime rate data from Lancashire Constabulary as part of a Strategic Needs Assessment. Its priorities centre on reducing:

  • Violent crime – including violence against women and girls (VAWG), and domestic abuse;
  • Anti-social behaviour & priority crime, such as environmental crime;
  • Vulnerability & exploitation – including modern slavery, and scams or rogue traders;
  • Substance use and related harm – including mental health and associated harm;

And improving:

  • Community confidence – through community engagement, reducing the fear of crime, and victim-focussed outcomes.

Development of the plan included a public consultation, seeking consensus on the issues the community considered to be ‘very important’ and ‘important’ to tackle. This found anti-social behaviour, serious and organised crime, violent crime, and road safety to be the highest priority areas.

Related news stories