Crime in Hoylake and Meols: statistics, rates and trends
719 crimes were recorded in Hoylake and Meols in the 12 months to July 2026, 57.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Hoylake and Meols at a glance
- Crime trends in Hoylake and Meols
- Types of crime in Hoylake and Meols
- Hoylake and Meols compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Hoylake and Meols
- What happened after crimes were reported in Hoylake and Meols
- Population and deprivation in Hoylake and Meols
- Questions about crime in Hoylake and Meols
- About this data
719 crimes were recorded in Hoylake and Meols in the 12 months to July 2026, 57.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 246 reports (34% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Hoylake and Meols has the 2,716th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Hoylake and Meols | Wirral | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 719 | 26,231 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 57.4 | 79.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 12,517 | 328,873 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Hoylake and Meols was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,084 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (689). Over the whole period it fell 29%, 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 | 719 | 57.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 689 | 55.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 725 | 57.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 913 | 72.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 988 | 78.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,084 | 86.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 945 | 75.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 996 | 79.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,007 | 80.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 58 |
| June 2026 | 49 |
| May 2026 | 81 |
| April 2026 | 50 |
| March 2026 | 71 |
| February 2026 | 68 |
| January 2026 | 44 |
| December 2025 | 45 |
| November 2025 | 63 |
| October 2025 | 47 |
| September 2025 | 63 |
| August 2025 | 80 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Hoylake and Meols 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. The largest increases were in shoplifting (+109%) and violence and sexual offences (+24%). The largest falls were in burglary (-52%) and drugs (-44%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 246 | 19.7 | 0.57 | +24% |
| Shoplifting | 119 | 9.5 | 1.15 | +109% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 112 | 8.9 | 0.58 | -22% |
| Public order | 79 | 6.3 | 0.95 | +8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 37 | 3.0 | 0.44 | -37% |
| Other theft | 35 | 2.8 | 0.44 | -44% |
| Other crime | 20 | 1.6 | 0.76 | +33% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 1.6 | 0.32 | -13% |
| Drugs | 15 | 1.2 | 0.37 | -44% |
| Burglary | 10 | 0.8 | 0.23 | -52% |
| Robbery | 9 | 0.7 | 0.53 | +125% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.6 | 0.66 | +167% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.6 | 0.68 | +600% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 0.09 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Hoylake and Meols
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Hoylake and Meols recorded 246 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 34.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Hoylake and Meols
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Hoylake and Meols recorded 119 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 109% on the year before. It made up 16.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Hoylake and Meols
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Hoylake and Meols recorded 112 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 15.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Hoylake and Meols
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Hoylake and Meols recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 11.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Hoylake and Meols
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Hoylake and Meols recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Hoylake and Meols
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Hoylake and Meols recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Hoylake and Meols
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Hoylake and Meols recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Hoylake and Meols
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Hoylake and Meols recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Hoylake and Meols
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Hoylake and Meols recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Hoylake and Meols
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Hoylake and Meols recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 52% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Hoylake and Meols
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Hoylake and Meols recorded 9 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 125% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Hoylake and Meols
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Hoylake and Meols recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 167% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Hoylake and Meols
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Hoylake and Meols recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 600% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Hoylake and Meols
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Hoylake and Meols recorded 2 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 100% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Hoylake and Meols, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Hoylake and Meols.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Hoylake and Meols |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Kirby and Thurstaston | 417 | 31.7 | -45% |
| Moreton West and Saughall Massie | 646 | 48.1 | -16% |
| Greasby, Frankby and Irby | 411 | 29.0 | -49% |
| Leasowe and Moreton East | 1,168 | 71.9 | +25% |
| Upton | 1,596 | 90.8 | +58% |
| Pensby and Thingwall | 412 | 33.6 | -42% |
| Bidston and St James | 2,307 | 141.0 | +146% |
| Claughton | 1,301 | 86.0 | +50% |
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 Hoylake and Meols over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Salisbury Avenue | 44 |
| On or near Parking Area | 42 |
| On or near Waverley Road | 39 |
| On or near Market Street | 31 |
| On or near Supermarket | 30 |
| On or near Acacia Grove | 27 |
| On or near Shrewsbury Road | 25 |
| On or near Lighthouse Road | 21 |
| On or near Charles Road | 20 |
| On or near Station Approach | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Hoylake and Meols 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 | 233 | 32.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 199 | 27.7% |
| Not recorded | 112 | 15.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 64 | 8.9% |
| Under investigation | 56 | 7.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 21 | 2.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 11 | 1.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.8% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.3% |
Hoylake and Meols has an estimated population of 12,517. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Hoylake and Meols sits in decile 7.6, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Hoylake and Meols |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 78.1% |
| Social rented homes | 5.0% |
| Private rented homes | 16.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.6 |
Is Hoylake and Meols a safe place to live?
Hoylake and Meols recorded 57.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Hoylake and Meols?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 246 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (119).
Is crime in Hoylake and Meols going up or down?
Recorded crime in Hoylake and Meols was up 4% on the year before: 719 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 689 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Hoylake and Meols?
Hoylake and Meols 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 Hoylake and Meols. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.