Crime in Molyneux: statistics, rates and trends
1,002 crimes were recorded in Molyneux in the 12 months to August 2026, 86.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (374), shoplifting (153) and anti-social behaviour (112) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,624th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Molyneux | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,002 | 24,393 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 86.5 | 85.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -5% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 11,590 | 286,281 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Molyneux peaked in the year to August 2025 (1,057 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (963). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 2%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,002 | 86.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,057 | 91.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 998 | 86.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 965 | 83.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,055 | 91.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,031 | 89.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 971 | 83.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 963 | 83.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,022 | 88.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 90 |
| July 2026 | 104 |
| June 2026 | 86 |
| May 2026 | 99 |
| April 2026 | 100 |
| March 2026 | 68 |
| February 2026 | 64 |
| January 2026 | 77 |
| December 2025 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 75 |
| October 2025 | 82 |
| September 2025 | 78 |
Compared with England and Wales, Molyneux recorded notably more shoplifting (56% above the national rate) and public order (35% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (39% below) and anti-social behaviour (37% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour fell from 148 to 112 and drugs fell from 42 to 32.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 374 | 32.3 | 34.2 | 0% |
| Shoplifting | 153 | 13.2 | 8.5 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 112 | 9.7 | 15.4 | -24% |
| Public order | 104 | 9.0 | 6.7 | +14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 65 | 5.6 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 55 | 4.7 | 6.4 | +12% |
| Vehicle crime | 35 | 3.0 | 5.0 | -22% |
| Drugs | 32 | 2.8 | 3.3 | -24% |
| Burglary | 26 | 2.2 | 3.6 | -24% |
| Other crime | 19 | 1.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 9 | 0.8 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Molyneux; the highest is St Oswald, Sefton (143.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Park, Sefton (31.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Molyneux |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sudell | 844 | 59.1 | -32% |
| St Oswald | 1,598 | 143.3 | +66% |
| Netherton and Orrell | 958 | 78.0 | -10% |
| Park | 392 | 31.9 | -63% |
| Ford | 1,385 | 96.3 | +11% |
| Litherland | 1,187 | 96.4 | +12% |
| Derby | 1,905 | 131.5 | +52% |
| Manor | 915 | 69.0 | -20% |
The 10 locations below account for 53% of the crime recorded in Molyneux over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (165).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 165 |
| On or near Villas Road | 117 |
| On or near Grand National Avenue | 47 |
| On or near Mostyn Avenue | 46 |
| On or near Topham Drive | 37 |
| On or near Molyneux Way | 28 |
| On or near Heysham Road | 26 |
| On or near Park Lane Drive | 23 |
| On or near Brenka Avenue | 21 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 17 |
Of the 890 crimes in Molyneux with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 112 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 368 | 41.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 288 | 32.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 117 | 13.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 48 | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 21 | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 1.6% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% | 0.6% |
Molyneux has an estimated population of 11,590 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (6.2%, against 17.1%), less private renting (10%, against 20%) and more home ownership (84%, against 63%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Molyneux average decile 6.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Molyneux | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 83.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Molyneux a safe place to live?
Molyneux recorded 86.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,624th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and public order.
What is the most common crime in Molyneux?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 374 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (153).
Is crime in Molyneux going up or down?
Recorded crime in Molyneux was down 5% on the year before: 1,002 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,057 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Molyneux?
About 11,590 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 24% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Molyneux?
Molyneux 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.