Crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter: statistics, rates and trends
4,537 crimes were recorded in Chester City & the Garden Quarter in the 12 months to August 2026, 230.4 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter at a glance
- Crime trends in Chester City & the Garden Quarter
- Types of crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter
- Chester City & the Garden Quarter compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter
- What happened after crimes were reported in Chester City & the Garden Quarter
- Demographics of Chester City & the Garden Quarter
- Questions about crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,742), shoplifting (641) and public order (607) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 143rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Chester City & the Garden Quarter | Cheshire West and Chester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 4,537 | 27,265 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 230.4 | 73.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 19,691 | 371,652 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter peaked in the year to August 2018 (6,280 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (4,189). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 28%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 4,537 | 230.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 4,655 | 236.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 4,819 | 244.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 4,998 | 253.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 4,938 | 250.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 4,189 | 212.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 4,742 | 240.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 5,390 | 273.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 6,280 | 318.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 405 |
| July 2026 | 435 |
| June 2026 | 366 |
| May 2026 | 367 |
| April 2026 | 348 |
| March 2026 | 394 |
| February 2026 | 355 |
| January 2026 | 344 |
| December 2025 | 412 |
| November 2025 | 385 |
| October 2025 | 376 |
| September 2025 | 350 |
Compared with England and Wales, Chester City & the Garden Quarter recorded notably more drugs (5.2 times the national rate), public order (4.6 times the national rate) and shoplifting (3.9 times the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (72% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour fell from 487 to 387 and robbery fell from 42 to 35.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,742 | 88.5 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Shoplifting | 641 | 32.6 | 8.5 | +6% |
| Public order | 607 | 30.8 | 6.7 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 387 | 19.7 | 15.4 | -21% |
| Drugs | 334 | 17.0 | 3.3 | +2% |
| Other theft | 301 | 15.3 | 6.4 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 221 | 11.2 | 6.7 | -9% |
| Burglary | 80 | 4.1 | 3.6 | -11% |
| Other crime | 46 | 2.3 | 2.1 | -10% |
| Bicycle theft | 44 | 2.2 | 0.8 | -4% |
| Theft from the person | 43 | 2.2 | 1.7 | -2% |
| Robbery | 35 | 1.8 | 1.4 | -17% |
| Possession of weapons | 29 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 1.4 | 5.0 | -16% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Chester City & the Garden Quarter has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Chester City & the Garden Quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton & Hoole | 878 | 56.2 | -76% |
| Handbridge Park | 600 | 67.4 | -71% |
| Great Boughton | 498 | 41.1 | -82% |
| Blacon | 1,312 | 95.6 | -59% |
| Upton | 1,203 | 94.4 | -59% |
| Lache | 355 | 54.1 | -77% |
| Christleton & Huntington | 524 | 40.6 | -82% |
| Saughall & Mollington | 172 | 47.9 | -79% |
The 10 locations below account for 52% of the crime recorded in Chester City & the Garden Quarter over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (638).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 638 |
| On or near Nightclub | 559 |
| On or near Parking Area | 356 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 149 |
| On or near Supermarket | 139 |
| On or near Lumley Place | 138 |
| On or near Godstall Lane | 118 |
| On or near Delamere Street | 98 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 78 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 73 |
Of the 4,150 crimes in Chester City & the Garden Quarter with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 12% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 387 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,383 | 33.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,079 | 26.0% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 500 | 12.0% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 400 | 9.6% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 345 | 8.3% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 303 | 7.3% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 75 | 1.8% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 31 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Chester City & the Garden Quarter has an estimated population of 19,691 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (27.1%, against 7.9%), more private renting (42%, against 20%) and fewer children (7.0%, against 18.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Chester City & the Garden Quarter average decile 5.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Chester City & the Garden Quarter | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 7.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 14.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 27.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 42.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 37.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 39.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 42.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Chester City & the Garden Quarter a safe place to live?
Chester City & the Garden Quarter recorded 230.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 143rd 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 Chester City & the Garden Quarter?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,742 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (641).
Is crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter going up or down?
Recorded crime in Chester City & the Garden Quarter was down 3% on the year before: 4,537 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 4,655 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Chester City & the Garden Quarter?
About 19,691 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Chester City & the Garden Quarter?
Chester City & the Garden Quarter is policed by Cheshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.