Crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East: statistics, rates and trends
1,117 crimes were recorded in Middlewich, Cheshire East in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East at a glance
- Crime trends in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- Types of crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- Middlewich, Cheshire East compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- What happened after crimes were reported in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- Population and deprivation in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- Questions about crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- About this data
1,117 crimes were recorded in Middlewich, Cheshire East in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 522 reports (47% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Middlewich, Cheshire East has the 1,980th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Middlewich, Cheshire East | Cheshire East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,117 | 28,232 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.4 | 67.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 14,613 | 421,298 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,356 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (129). Over the whole period it fell 18%, 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 | 1,117 | 76.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,031 | 70.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,015 | 69.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 129 | 8.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 428 | 29.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,328 | 90.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,343 | 91.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,222 | 83.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,356 | 92.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 118 |
| June 2026 | 115 |
| May 2026 | 96 |
| April 2026 | 89 |
| March 2026 | 97 |
| February 2026 | 74 |
| January 2026 | 73 |
| December 2025 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 94 |
| October 2025 | 92 |
| September 2025 | 85 |
| August 2025 | 105 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Middlewich, Cheshire East 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 public order.
The largest increases were in drugs (+100%) and public order (+49%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-40%) and other crime (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 522 | 35.7 | 1.04 | +5% |
| Public order | 159 | 10.9 | 1.64 | +49% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 102 | 7.0 | 1.03 | +38% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 67 | 4.6 | 0.30 | -40% |
| Shoplifting | 64 | 4.4 | 0.53 | +0% |
| Drugs | 58 | 4.0 | 1.21 | +100% |
| Other theft | 51 | 3.5 | 0.55 | -2% |
| Other crime | 34 | 2.3 | 1.10 | -23% |
| Burglary | 29 | 2.0 | 0.56 | +32% |
| Possession of weapons | 14 | 1.0 | 0.99 | +180% |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 0.7 | 0.14 | -44% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.3 | 0.25 | +400% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.17 | -60% |
Violence and sexual offences in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (35.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 46.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 49% on the year before. It made up 14.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 180% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 400% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Middlewich, Cheshire East
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Middlewich, Cheshire East, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Middlewich, Cheshire East.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Middlewich, Cheshire East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandbach Elworth | 442 | 57.2 | -25% |
| Dane Valley | 304 | 27.9 | -63% |
| Sandbach Ettiley Heath and Wheelock | 139 | 32.5 | -57% |
| Sandbach Town | 239 | 44.5 | -42% |
| Sandbach Heath and East | 475 | 79.2 | +4% |
| Leighton | 541 | 77.6 | +2% |
| Crewe North | 418 | 72.8 | -5% |
| Brereton Rural | 367 | 44.1 | -42% |
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 Middlewich, Cheshire East over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Sanderson Way | 104 |
| On or near Bramble Close | 43 |
| On or near Dierdens Terrace | 42 |
| On or near Supermarket | 42 |
| On or near Wheelock Street | 39 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 37 |
| On or near George Vi Close | 29 |
| On or near Civic Way | 27 |
| On or near Dale Court | 25 |
| On or near Bradfield Close | 21 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Middlewich, Cheshire East 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 | 418 | 37.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 241 | 21.6% |
| Under investigation | 118 | 10.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 108 | 9.7% |
| Not recorded | 67 | 6.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 63 | 5.6% |
| Local resolution | 60 | 5.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 1.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% |
Middlewich, Cheshire East has an estimated population of 14,613. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Middlewich, Cheshire East sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Middlewich, Cheshire East |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.3% |
| Social rented homes | 11.5% |
| Private rented homes | 13.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 |
Is Middlewich, Cheshire East a safe place to live?
Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 76.4 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 Middlewich, Cheshire East?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (159).
Is crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East going up or down?
Recorded crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East was up 8% on the year before: 1,117 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,031 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Middlewich, Cheshire East?
Middlewich, Cheshire East 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 Middlewich, Cheshire East. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.