Crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East: statistics, rates and trends
1,122 crimes were recorded in Middlewich, Cheshire East in the 12 months to August 2026, 76.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Middlewich, Cheshire East
- Questions about crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (528), public order (165) and criminal damage and arson (99) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,958th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Middlewich, Cheshire East | Cheshire East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,122 | 28,139 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.8 | 66.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 14,613 | 421,298 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East peaked in the year to August 2018 (1,336 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (206). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 16%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,122 | 76.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,040 | 71.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,015 | 69.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 206 | 14.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 347 | 23.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,302 | 89.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,319 | 90.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,281 | 87.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,336 | 91.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 110 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded notably more public order (69% above the national rate) and drugs (28% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (69% below) and shoplifting (59% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 32 to 61 and burglary rose from 22 to 33, while anti-social behaviour fell from 101 to 69 and shoplifting fell from 74 to 51.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 528 | 36.1 | 34.2 | +7% |
| Public order | 165 | 11.3 | 6.7 | +49% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 99 | 6.8 | 6.7 | +27% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 69 | 4.7 | 15.4 | -32% |
| Drugs | 61 | 4.2 | 3.3 | +91% |
| Other theft | 54 | 3.7 | 6.4 | +8% |
| Shoplifting | 51 | 3.5 | 8.5 | -31% |
| Burglary | 33 | 2.3 | 3.6 | +50% |
| Other crime | 32 | 2.2 | 2.1 | -29% |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 0.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Middlewich, Cheshire East; the highest is Sandbach Heath and East (81.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Dane Valley, Cheshire East (28.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Middlewich, Cheshire East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandbach Elworth | 428 | 55.4 | -28% |
| Dane Valley | 305 | 28.0 | -64% |
| Sandbach Ettiley Heath and Wheelock | 138 | 32.3 | -58% |
| Sandbach Town | 236 | 43.9 | -43% |
| Sandbach Heath and East | 490 | 81.7 | +6% |
| Leighton | 524 | 75.2 | -2% |
| Crewe North | 423 | 73.6 | -4% |
| Brereton Rural | 371 | 44.6 | -42% |
The 10 locations below account for 36% of the crime recorded in Middlewich, Cheshire East over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Sanderson Way” (98).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Sanderson Way | 98 |
| On or near Bramble Close | 43 |
| On or near Wheelock Street | 43 |
| On or near Dierdens Terrace | 37 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 36 |
| On or near Supermarket | 33 |
| On or near George Vi Close | 28 |
| On or near Lawrence Avenue | 28 |
| On or near Civic Way | 27 |
| On or near Dale Court | 27 |
Of the 1,053 crimes in Middlewich, Cheshire East with a recorded outcome, 23% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 11% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 69 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 413 | 39.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 240 | 22.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 121 | 11.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 119 | 11.3% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 60 | 5.7% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 54 | 5.1% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 20 | 1.9% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Middlewich, Cheshire East has an estimated population of 14,613 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%), fewer students (4.8%, against 7.9%) and less private renting (13%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Middlewich, Cheshire East average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Middlewich, Cheshire East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Middlewich, Cheshire East a safe place to live?
Middlewich, Cheshire East recorded 76.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,958th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were public order and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 528 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by public order (165).
Is crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East going up or down?
Recorded crime in Middlewich, Cheshire East was up 8% on the year before: 1,122 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,040 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Middlewich, Cheshire East?
About 14,613 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Middlewich, Cheshire East?
Middlewich, Cheshire East is policed by Cheshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.