Crime in Cheshire East: statistics, rates and trends

28,232 crimes were recorded in Cheshire East in the 12 months to July 2026, 67.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 12,526 reports (44% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Cheshire East has the 233rd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Cheshire East was highest in the year to July 2018 (35,579 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (24,425). Over the whole period it fell 21%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Cheshire East 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. The largest increases were in drugs (+33%) and robbery (+18%).

Violence and sexual offences in Cheshire East

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cheshire East recorded 12,526 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 44.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Cheshire East

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cheshire East recorded 3,110 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Cheshire East

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cheshire East recorded 2,588 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Cheshire East

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cheshire East recorded 2,050 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Cheshire East

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cheshire East recorded 1,827 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Cheshire East

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cheshire East recorded 1,725 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Cheshire East

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cheshire East recorded 1,368 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Cheshire East

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cheshire East recorded 900 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Cheshire East

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cheshire East recorded 729 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Cheshire East

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cheshire East recorded 698 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Cheshire East

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cheshire East recorded 308 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Cheshire East

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cheshire East recorded 204 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Cheshire East

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cheshire East recorded 135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Cheshire East

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cheshire East recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Cheshire East, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cheshire East.

88 areas within Cheshire East, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Macclesfield Central had the highest rate (184.2 per 1,000) and High Legh the lowest (18.3). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Cheshire East over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cheshire East 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.

Cheshire East has an estimated population of 421,298. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cheshire East sits in decile 7.1, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Cheshire East. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.