Crime in Cambridge, Sefton: statistics, rates and trends
868 crimes were recorded in Cambridge, Sefton in the 12 months to August 2026, 68.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cambridge, Sefton at a glance
- Crime trends in Cambridge, Sefton
- Types of crime in Cambridge, Sefton
- Cambridge, Sefton compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Cambridge, Sefton
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cambridge, Sefton
- Demographics of Cambridge, Sefton
- Questions about crime in Cambridge, Sefton
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (408), drugs (85) and public order (76) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,283rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Cambridge, Sefton | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 868 | 24,393 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 68.6 | 85.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 12,644 | 286,281 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Cambridge, Sefton of any year here (868 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 13%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 868 | 68.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 920 | 72.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 960 | 75.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,099 | 86.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,233 | 97.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,177 | 93.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,139 | 90.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 988 | 78.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 996 | 78.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 51 |
| July 2026 | 87 |
| June 2026 | 76 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 85 |
| March 2026 | 62 |
| February 2026 | 72 |
| January 2026 | 66 |
| December 2025 | 71 |
| November 2025 | 72 |
| October 2025 | 74 |
| September 2025 | 75 |
Compared with England and Wales, Cambridge, Sefton recorded notably more drugs (2.1 times the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (62% below) and shoplifting (54% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 60 to 74 and other theft rose from 43 to 52, while criminal damage and arson fell from 76 to 47 and public order fell from 109 to 76.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 408 | 32.3 | 34.2 | -6% |
| Drugs | 85 | 6.7 | 3.3 | +12% |
| Public order | 76 | 6.0 | 6.7 | -30% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 74 | 5.9 | 15.4 | +23% |
| Other theft | 52 | 4.1 | 6.4 | +21% |
| Shoplifting | 49 | 3.9 | 8.5 | +11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 47 | 3.7 | 6.7 | -38% |
| Other crime | 19 | 1.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 17 | 1.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 17 | 1.3 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 11 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Cambridge, Sefton; the highest is Duke's (207.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Meols, Sefton (38.3).
The 10 locations below account for 47% of the crime recorded in Cambridge, Sefton over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (56).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 56 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 51 |
| On or near Lathom Road | 50 |
| On or near Park Road | 49 |
| On or near Parking Area | 44 |
| On or near Police Station | 40 |
| On or near Marshside Road | 35 |
| On or near Park Road West | 33 |
| On or near Preesall Close | 29 |
| On or near Irving Street | 24 |
Of the 794 crimes in Cambridge, Sefton with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 74 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 370 | 46.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 193 | 24.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 74 | 9.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 41 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 40 | 5.0% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 28 | 3.5% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 22 | 2.8% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 17 | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.3% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Cambridge, Sefton has an estimated population of 12,644 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (38%, against 19%), more retired residents (39%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.3%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cambridge, Sefton average decile 4.0 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Cambridge, Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 10.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 38.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 41.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 38.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 23.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 30.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 60.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 27.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 12.9% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Cambridge, Sefton a safe place to live?
Cambridge, Sefton recorded 68.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,283rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs.
What is the most common crime in Cambridge, Sefton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 408 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by drugs (85).
Is crime in Cambridge, Sefton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cambridge, Sefton was down 6% on the year before: 868 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 920 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cambridge, Sefton?
About 12,644 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 38% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cambridge, Sefton?
Cambridge, Sefton 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.