Crime in Wirral: statistics, rates and trends

26,231 crimes were recorded in Wirral in the 12 months to July 2026, 79.8 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 11,098 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Wirral has the 180th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Wirral was highest in the year to July 2022 (34,872 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (25,411). Over the whole period it fell 19%, 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 Wirral 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 drugs.

The largest increases were in shoplifting (+53%) and robbery (+20%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-20%) and vehicle crime (-16%).

Violence and sexual offences in Wirral

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wirral recorded 11,098 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 42.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Wirral

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wirral recorded 3,116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 11.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Wirral

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wirral recorded 2,527 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Wirral

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wirral recorded 2,358 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Wirral

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wirral recorded 1,712 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Wirral

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wirral recorded 1,463 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Wirral

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wirral recorded 1,285 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Wirral

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wirral recorded 679 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 2% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Wirral

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wirral recorded 676 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Wirral

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wirral recorded 650 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Wirral

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wirral recorded 249 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Wirral

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wirral recorded 218 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 20% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Wirral

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wirral recorded 142 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Wirral

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wirral recorded 58 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 up 12% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

31 areas within Wirral, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Birkenhead and Tranmere had the highest rate (259.1 per 1,000) and Meols the lowest (23.3). 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 Wirral over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wirral 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.

Wirral has an estimated population of 328,873. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wirral sits in decile 5.0, 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 Wirral. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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