Crime in Macclesfield Central: statistics, rates and trends
1,450 crimes were recorded in Macclesfield Central in the 12 months to July 2026, 184.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 15% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Macclesfield Central at a glance
- Crime trends in Macclesfield Central
- Types of crime in Macclesfield Central
- Macclesfield Central compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Macclesfield Central
- What happened after crimes were reported in Macclesfield Central
- Population and deprivation in Macclesfield Central
- Questions about crime in Macclesfield Central
- About this data
1,450 crimes were recorded in Macclesfield Central in the 12 months to July 2026, 184.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 15% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 476 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Macclesfield Central has the 248th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Macclesfield Central | Cheshire East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,450 | 28,232 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 184.2 | 67.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +15% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 7,873 | 421,298 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Macclesfield Central was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,918 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,261). Over the whole period it fell 24%, 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 | 1,450 | 184.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,266 | 160.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,261 | 160.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,585 | 201.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,918 | 243.6 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,779 | 226.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,689 | 214.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,868 | 237.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,913 | 243.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 152 |
| June 2026 | 136 |
| May 2026 | 137 |
| April 2026 | 113 |
| March 2026 | 151 |
| February 2026 | 94 |
| January 2026 | 110 |
| December 2025 | 104 |
| November 2025 | 105 |
| October 2025 | 99 |
| September 2025 | 118 |
| August 2025 | 131 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Macclesfield Central 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 (+59%) and anti-social behaviour (+20%). The largest falls were in other crime (-21%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 476 | 60.5 | 1.77 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 333 | 42.3 | 5.11 | +59% |
| Public order | 172 | 21.8 | 3.29 | +14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 131 | 16.6 | 1.08 | +20% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 78 | 9.9 | 1.46 | +5% |
| Drugs | 65 | 8.3 | 2.53 | -3% |
| Other theft | 60 | 7.6 | 1.19 | -3% |
| Vehicle crime | 34 | 4.3 | 0.88 | -3% |
| Burglary | 33 | 4.2 | 1.19 | +14% |
| Other crime | 22 | 2.8 | 1.32 | -21% |
| Possession of weapons | 18 | 2.3 | 2.35 | +6% |
| Bicycle theft | 13 | 1.7 | 2.01 | +225% |
| Robbery | 10 | 1.3 | 0.94 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.6 | 0.38 | -17% |
Violence and sexual offences in Macclesfield Central
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Macclesfield Central recorded 476 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (60.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 32.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Macclesfield Central
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Macclesfield Central recorded 333 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (42.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 59% on the year before. It made up 23.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Macclesfield Central
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Macclesfield Central recorded 172 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 11.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Macclesfield Central
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Macclesfield Central recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Macclesfield Central
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Macclesfield Central recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Macclesfield Central
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Macclesfield Central recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Macclesfield Central
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Macclesfield Central recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Macclesfield Central
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Macclesfield Central recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Macclesfield Central
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Macclesfield Central recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Macclesfield Central
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Macclesfield Central recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Macclesfield Central
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Macclesfield Central recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Macclesfield Central
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Macclesfield Central recorded 13 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 up 225% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Macclesfield Central
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Macclesfield Central recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Macclesfield Central
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Macclesfield Central recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Macclesfield Central, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Macclesfield Central.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Macclesfield Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macclesfield South | 763 | 77.4 | -58% |
| Macclesfield East | 515 | 87.4 | -53% |
| Macclesfield West and Ivy | 571 | 68.2 | -63% |
| Macclesfield Hurdsfield | 574 | 125.5 | -32% |
| Broken Cross and Upton | 608 | 64.7 | -65% |
| Macclesfield Tytherington | 263 | 28.5 | -85% |
| Sutton | 178 | 36.2 | -80% |
| Prestbury | 107 | 31.2 | -83% |
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 Macclesfield Central over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 239 |
| On or near Wood Street | 136 |
| On or near Supermarket | 91 |
| On or near Churchside | 66 |
| On or near Mill Street | 49 |
| On or near Wardle Street | 46 |
| On or near Stanley Street | 43 |
| On or near Market Place | 35 |
| On or near Duke Street | 33 |
| On or near Brunswick Street | 31 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Macclesfield Central 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 | 429 | 29.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 346 | 23.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 251 | 17.3% |
| Not recorded | 131 | 9.0% |
| Under investigation | 107 | 7.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 76 | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 74 | 5.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 1.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 1.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Macclesfield Central has an estimated population of 7,873. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Macclesfield Central sits in decile 5.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Macclesfield Central |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 70.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 53.4% |
| Social rented homes | 8.2% |
| Private rented homes | 38.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 |
Is Macclesfield Central a safe place to live?
Macclesfield Central recorded 184.2 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 Macclesfield Central?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 476 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (333).
Is crime in Macclesfield Central going up or down?
Recorded crime in Macclesfield Central was up 15% on the year before: 1,450 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,266 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Macclesfield Central?
Macclesfield Central is policed by Cheshire. 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 Macclesfield Central. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.