Crime in Sefton: statistics, rates and trends

24,388 crimes were recorded in Sefton in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 10,329 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Sefton has the 159th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Sefton was highest in the year to July 2022 (30,105 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (24,074). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 Sefton 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, drugs.

The largest increases were in robbery (+24%) and theft from the person (+23%). The largest falls were in burglary (-16%) and vehicle crime (-14%).

Violence and sexual offences in Sefton

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sefton recorded 10,329 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 42.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Sefton

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sefton recorded 2,691 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Sefton

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sefton recorded 2,383 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Sefton

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sefton recorded 1,925 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Sefton

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sefton recorded 1,782 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Sefton

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sefton recorded 1,545 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Sefton

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sefton recorded 1,229 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 6% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Sefton

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sefton recorded 687 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Sefton

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sefton recorded 599 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 16% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Sefton

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sefton recorded 510 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Sefton

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sefton recorded 225 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Sefton

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sefton recorded 210 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 7% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Sefton

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sefton recorded 197 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Sefton

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sefton recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

31 areas within Sefton, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Duke's had the highest rate (209.6 per 1,000) and Park the lowest (32.5). 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 Sefton over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sefton 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.

Sefton has an estimated population of 286,281. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sefton sits in decile 5.1, 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 Sefton. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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