Crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere: statistics, rates and trends
4,562 crimes were recorded in Birkenhead and Tranmere in the 12 months to August 2026, 254.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere at a glance
- Crime trends in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- Types of crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- Birkenhead and Tranmere compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- What happened after crimes were reported in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- Demographics of Birkenhead and Tranmere
- Questions about crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,608), shoplifting (588), anti-social behaviour (508) and public order (508) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 115th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Birkenhead and Tranmere | Wirral | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 4,562 | 26,029 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 254.1 | 79.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 17,957 | 328,873 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere peaked in the year to August 2022 (5,812 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (4,157). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 17%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 4,562 | 254.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 4,227 | 235.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 4,157 | 231.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 5,400 | 300.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 5,812 | 323.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 5,198 | 289.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 5,308 | 295.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 5,416 | 301.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 5,515 | 307.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 390 |
| July 2026 | 423 |
| June 2026 | 409 |
| May 2026 | 401 |
| April 2026 | 367 |
| March 2026 | 423 |
| February 2026 | 351 |
| January 2026 | 331 |
| December 2025 | 359 |
| November 2025 | 349 |
| October 2025 | 404 |
| September 2025 | 355 |
Compared with England and Wales, Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded notably more drugs (6.1 times the national rate), public order (4.2 times the national rate) and shoplifting (3.9 times the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (34% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 353 to 588 and other crime rose from 83 to 107, while drugs fell from 427 to 360.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,608 | 89.5 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 588 | 32.7 | 8.5 | +67% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 508 | 28.3 | 15.4 | +16% |
| Public order | 508 | 28.3 | 6.7 | +6% |
| Drugs | 360 | 20.0 | 3.3 | -16% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 336 | 18.7 | 6.7 | +1% |
| Other theft | 196 | 10.9 | 6.4 | +4% |
| Other crime | 107 | 6.0 | 2.1 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 99 | 5.5 | 5.0 | -7% |
| Burglary | 86 | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1% |
| Possession of weapons | 62 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0% |
| Robbery | 48 | 2.7 | 1.4 | +23% |
| Bicycle theft | 36 | 2.0 | 0.8 | -3% |
| Theft from the person | 20 | 1.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Birkenhead and Tranmere has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birkenhead and Tranmere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxton | 970 | 68.3 | -73% |
| Rock Ferry | 1,640 | 100.7 | -60% |
| Prenton | 778 | 55.2 | -78% |
| Claughton | 1,304 | 86.2 | -66% |
| Bidston and St James | 2,297 | 140.4 | -45% |
| Seacombe | 2,127 | 135.8 | -47% |
| Bebington | 729 | 48.0 | -81% |
| Liscard | 1,394 | 92.5 | -64% |
The 10 locations below account for 36% of the crime recorded in Birkenhead and Tranmere over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Catherine Street” (271).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Catherine Street | 271 |
| On or near Parking Area | 197 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 190 |
| On or near Horatio Street | 173 |
| On or near Argyle Street | 159 |
| On or near Cedar Street | 148 |
| On or near River Street | 142 |
| On or near Supermarket | 131 |
| On or near Burlington Street | 121 |
| On or near Oliver Lane | 106 |
Of the 4,054 crimes in Birkenhead and Tranmere with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 10% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 508 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,566 | 38.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,099 | 27.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 432 | 10.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 420 | 10.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 168 | 4.1% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 157 | 3.9% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 109 | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 60 | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 22 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Birkenhead and Tranmere has an estimated population of 17,957 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more households without a car (50%, against 23%), more social housing (31%, against 17%) and more private renting (36%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Birkenhead and Tranmere average decile 1.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Birkenhead and Tranmere | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 49.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 13.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 49.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 33.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 30.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 35.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.1 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 87.9% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Birkenhead and Tranmere a safe place to live?
Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 254.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 115th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and public order.
What is the most common crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,608 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (588).
Is crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere was up 8% on the year before: 4,562 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 4,227 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Birkenhead and Tranmere?
About 17,957 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 11% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Birkenhead and Tranmere?
Birkenhead and Tranmere is policed by Merseyside.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.