Crime in Meols, Sefton: statistics, rates and trends
471 crimes were recorded in Meols, Sefton in the 12 months to July 2026, 38.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Meols, Sefton
- Questions about crime in Meols, Sefton
- About this data
471 crimes were recorded in Meols, Sefton in the 12 months to July 2026, 38.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 242 reports (51% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Meols, Sefton has the 3,482nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Meols, Sefton | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 471 | 24,388 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 38.9 | 85.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 12,103 | 286,281 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Meols, Sefton was highest in the year to July 2022 (633 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (471). Over the whole period it fell 14%, 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 | 471 | 38.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 488 | 40.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 549 | 45.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 593 | 49.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 633 | 52.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 609 | 50.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 553 | 45.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 492 | 40.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 545 | 45.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 51 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Meols, Sefton 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 other theft (+20%) and violence and sexual offences (+12%). The largest falls were in drugs (-50%) and other crime (-35%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 242 | 20.0 | 0.58 | +12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 48 | 4.0 | 0.26 | +2% |
| Public order | 46 | 3.8 | 0.57 | -30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 38 | 3.1 | 0.46 | -16% |
| Other theft | 30 | 2.5 | 0.39 | +20% |
| Drugs | 14 | 1.2 | 0.35 | -50% |
| Vehicle crime | 14 | 1.2 | 0.23 | +100% |
| Other crime | 13 | 1.1 | 0.51 | -35% |
| Burglary | 12 | 1.0 | 0.28 | -25% |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 0.7 | 0.09 | -25% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.30 | +200% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 0.17 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Meols, Sefton
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Meols, Sefton recorded 242 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 51.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Meols, Sefton
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Meols, Sefton recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Meols, Sefton
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Meols, Sefton recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Meols, Sefton
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Meols, Sefton recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Meols, Sefton
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Meols, Sefton recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Meols, Sefton
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Meols, Sefton recorded 14 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 50% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Meols, Sefton
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Meols, Sefton recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Meols, Sefton
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Meols, Sefton recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Meols, Sefton
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Meols, Sefton recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Meols, Sefton
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Meols, Sefton recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Meols, Sefton
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Meols, Sefton recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Meols, Sefton
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Meols, Sefton recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Meols, Sefton, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Meols, Sefton.
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 Meols, Sefton over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 29 |
| On or near Ribble Avenue | 22 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 18 |
| On or near Sally'S Lane | 17 |
| On or near Slackey Lane | 16 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 15 |
| On or near Drewitt Crescent | 14 |
| On or near Meadow Brow | 14 |
| On or near Dawson Avenue | 12 |
| On or near Land Lane | 11 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Meols, Sefton 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 | 220 | 46.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 100 | 21.2% |
| Not recorded | 48 | 10.2% |
| Under investigation | 44 | 9.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 21 | 4.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 8 | 1.7% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% |
Meols, Sefton has an estimated population of 12,103. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Meols, Sefton sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Meols, Sefton |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 55.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 84.8% |
| Social rented homes | 3.3% |
| Private rented homes | 11.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is Meols, Sefton a safe place to live?
Meols, Sefton recorded 38.9 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 Meols, Sefton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 242 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (48).
Is crime in Meols, Sefton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Meols, Sefton was down 3% on the year before: 471 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 488 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Meols, Sefton?
Meols, Sefton 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 Meols, Sefton. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.