Crime in Meols, Sefton: statistics, rates and trends
464 crimes were recorded in Meols, Sefton in the 12 months to August 2026, 38.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Meols, Sefton at a glance
- Crime trends in Meols, Sefton
- Types of crime in Meols, Sefton
- Meols, Sefton compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Meols, Sefton
- What happened after crimes were reported in Meols, Sefton
- Demographics of Meols, Sefton
- Questions about crime in Meols, Sefton
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (236), public order (51) and anti-social behaviour (48) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,497th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Meols, Sefton | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 464 | 24,393 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 38.3 | 85.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 12,103 | 286,281 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Meols, Sefton of any year here (464 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 8%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 464 | 38.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 501 | 41.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 529 | 43.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 608 | 50.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 607 | 50.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 632 | 52.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 536 | 44.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 520 | 43.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 503 | 41.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 44 |
| July 2026 | 40 |
| June 2026 | 47 |
| May 2026 | 43 |
| April 2026 | 50 |
| March 2026 | 29 |
| February 2026 | 37 |
| January 2026 | 21 |
| December 2025 | 44 |
| November 2025 | 40 |
| October 2025 | 46 |
| September 2025 | 23 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (74% below) and other theft (64% below) were well below it. On the year before, public order fell from 66 to 51 and criminal damage and arson fell from 49 to 40.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 236 | 19.5 | 34.2 | +9% |
| Public order | 51 | 4.2 | 6.7 | -23% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 48 | 4.0 | 15.4 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 40 | 3.3 | 6.7 | -18% |
| Other theft | 28 | 2.3 | 6.4 | +12% |
| Shoplifting | 14 | 1.2 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Other crime | 12 | 1.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 1.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 11 | 0.9 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 9 | 0.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Meols, Sefton over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (29).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 29 |
| On or near Ribble Avenue | 23 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 20 |
| On or near Drewitt Crescent | 15 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 14 |
| On or near Sally'S Lane | 14 |
| On or near Dawson Avenue | 12 |
| On or near The Crescent | 12 |
| On or near Meadow Brow | 11 |
| On or near Slackey Lane | 11 |
Of the 416 crimes in Meols, Sefton with a recorded outcome, 22% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 48 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 214 | 51.4% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 92 | 22.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 56 | 13.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 22 | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 2.9% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 5 | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 1.2% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Meols, Sefton has an estimated population of 12,103 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (3.3%, against 17.1%), an older population (30%, against 19%) and more retired residents (34%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Meols, Sefton average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Meols, Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 33.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 84.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 3.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Meols, Sefton a safe place to live?
Meols, Sefton recorded 38.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,497th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Meols, Sefton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 236 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by public order (51).
Is crime in Meols, Sefton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Meols, Sefton was down 7% on the year before: 464 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 501 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Meols, Sefton?
About 12,103 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 30% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Meols, Sefton?
Meols, 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.