Crime in St. Helens: statistics, rates and trends

17,936 crimes were recorded in St. Helens in the 12 months to July 2026, 95.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 7,563 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, St. Helens has the 115th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in St. Helens was highest in the year to July 2022 (24,194 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (17,778). Over the whole period it fell 14%, 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 St. Helens 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 theft from the person (+20%) and robbery (+17%). The largest falls were in burglary (-12%).

Violence and sexual offences in St. Helens

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St. Helens recorded 7,563 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 42.2% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in St. Helens

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St. Helens recorded 1,672 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in St. Helens

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St. Helens recorded 1,636 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in St. Helens

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St. Helens recorded 1,501 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in St. Helens

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St. Helens recorded 1,316 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in St. Helens

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St. Helens recorded 1,311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in St. Helens

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St. Helens recorded 926 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in St. Helens

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St. Helens recorded 650 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in St. Helens

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St. Helens recorded 475 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in St. Helens

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St. Helens recorded 442 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in St. Helens

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St. Helens recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in St. Helens

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St. Helens recorded 125 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in St. Helens

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St. Helens recorded 94 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 11% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in St. Helens

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St. Helens recorded 66 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 20% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

23 areas within St. Helens, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. St Helens Town Centre had the highest rate (317.5 per 1,000) and Rainford the lowest (35.8). 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 St. Helens over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St. Helens 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.

St. Helens has an estimated population of 188,861. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St. Helens sits in decile 4.5, more 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 St. Helens. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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