Crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere: statistics, rates and trends
4,652 crimes were recorded in Birkenhead and Tranmere in the 12 months to July 2026, 259.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 13% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- Questions about crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere
- About this data
4,652 crimes were recorded in Birkenhead and Tranmere in the 12 months to July 2026, 259.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 13% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,652 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Birkenhead and Tranmere has the 112th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Birkenhead and Tranmere | Wirral | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 4,652 | 26,231 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 259.1 | 79.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +13% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 17,957 | 328,873 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere was highest in the year to July 2022 (5,653 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (4,101). Over the whole period it fell 15%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 4,652 | 259.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 4,101 | 228.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 4,185 | 233.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 5,575 | 310.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 5,653 | 314.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 5,316 | 296.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 5,270 | 293.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 5,447 | 303.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 5,457 | 303.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 480 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Birkenhead and Tranmere 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 violence and sexual offences, shoplifting, public order.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+104%) and robbery (+51%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-21%) and theft from the person (-14%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,652 | 92.0 | 2.69 | +5% |
| Shoplifting | 595 | 33.1 | 4.00 | +104% |
| Public order | 518 | 28.8 | 4.34 | +8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 496 | 27.6 | 1.80 | +15% |
| Drugs | 385 | 21.4 | 6.56 | -4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 347 | 19.3 | 2.85 | +9% |
| Other theft | 201 | 11.2 | 1.75 | +6% |
| Other crime | 113 | 6.3 | 2.98 | +43% |
| Vehicle crime | 98 | 5.5 | 1.11 | -7% |
| Burglary | 82 | 4.6 | 1.29 | -4% |
| Possession of weapons | 64 | 3.6 | 3.67 | +10% |
| Robbery | 53 | 3.0 | 2.18 | +51% |
| Bicycle theft | 30 | 1.7 | 2.03 | -21% |
| Theft from the person | 18 | 1.0 | 0.59 | -14% |
Violence and sexual offences in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 1,652 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (92.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 35.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 595 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 104% on the year before. It made up 12.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 518 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 11.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 496 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 10.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 385 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 347 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 201 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 98 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 51% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Birkenhead and Tranmere
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Birkenhead and Tranmere, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Birkenhead and Tranmere.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birkenhead and Tranmere |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxton | 989 | 69.6 | -73% |
| Rock Ferry | 1,622 | 99.5 | -62% |
| Prenton | 770 | 54.7 | -79% |
| Claughton | 1,301 | 86.0 | -67% |
| Bidston and St James | 2,307 | 141.0 | -46% |
| Seacombe | 2,136 | 136.4 | -47% |
| Bebington | 708 | 46.7 | -82% |
| Liscard | 1,389 | 92.2 | -64% |
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 Birkenhead and Tranmere over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Catherine Street | 270 |
| On or near Parking Area | 207 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 196 |
| On or near Supermarket | 160 |
| On or near Cedar Street | 153 |
| On or near Horatio Street | 148 |
| On or near Argyle Street | 147 |
| On or near River Street | 147 |
| On or near Burlington Street | 116 |
| On or near Oliver Lane | 108 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Birkenhead and Tranmere 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,629 | 35.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,134 | 24.4% |
| Not recorded | 496 | 10.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 437 | 9.4% |
| Under investigation | 412 | 8.9% |
| Local resolution | 161 | 3.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 160 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 103 | 2.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 69 | 1.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 23 | 0.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 0.3% |
Birkenhead and Tranmere has an estimated population of 17,957. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Birkenhead and Tranmere sits in decile 1.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Birkenhead and Tranmere |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 33.7% |
| Social rented homes | 30.7% |
| Private rented homes | 35.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.1 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 87.9% |
Is Birkenhead and Tranmere a safe place to live?
Birkenhead and Tranmere recorded 259.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,652 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (595).
Is crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birkenhead and Tranmere was up 13% on the year before: 4,652 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 4,101 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Birkenhead and Tranmere?
Birkenhead and Tranmere is policed by Merseyside. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Birkenhead and Tranmere. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.