Crime in Cheshire West and Chester: statistics, rates and trends

27,080 crimes were recorded in Cheshire West and Chester in the 12 months to July 2026, 72.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 12,306 reports (45% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Cheshire West and Chester has the 208th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Cheshire West and Chester was highest in the year to July 2018 (34,403 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (26,559). 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 West and Chester 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. Rates were well above the national level for public order.

The largest increases were in shoplifting (+20%) and drugs (+17%). The largest falls were in other crime (-13%) and bicycle theft (-12%).

Violence and sexual offences in Cheshire West and Chester

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 12,306 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 45.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Cheshire West and Chester

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 3,161 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 11.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Cheshire West and Chester

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 2,593 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Cheshire West and Chester

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 2,205 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Cheshire West and Chester

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 1,706 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Cheshire West and Chester

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 1,591 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Cheshire West and Chester

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 1,046 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Cheshire West and Chester

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 736 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Cheshire West and Chester

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 591 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Cheshire West and Chester

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Cheshire West and Chester

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 226 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Cheshire West and Chester

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 168 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 down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Cheshire West and Chester

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Cheshire West and Chester

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cheshire West and Chester recorded 79 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 8% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

73 areas within Cheshire West and Chester, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Wolverham had the highest rate (249.9 per 1,000) and Kelsall the lowest (15.2). 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 West and Chester over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cheshire West and Chester 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 West and Chester has an estimated population of 371,652. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cheshire West and Chester sits in decile 6.4, close to the middle. 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 West and Chester. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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