Crime in Neston: statistics, rates and trends
411 crimes were recorded in Neston in the 12 months to July 2026, 97.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before.
Table of Contents
411 crimes were recorded in Neston in the 12 months to July 2026, 97.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 174 reports (42% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Neston has the 1,315th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Neston | Cheshire West and Chester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 411 | 27,080 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 97.3 | 72.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -17% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 4,225 | 371,652 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Neston was highest in the year to July 2021 (540 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (411). 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 | 411 | 97.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 495 | 117.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 444 | 105.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 507 | 120.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 427 | 101.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 540 | 127.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 524 | 124.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 443 | 104.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 478 | 113.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 48 |
| June 2026 | 50 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 26 |
| March 2026 | 33 |
| February 2026 | 21 |
| January 2026 | 29 |
| December 2025 | 25 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 56 |
| September 2025 | 38 |
| August 2025 | 25 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Neston 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 shoplifting.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+30%) and anti-social behaviour (+23%). The largest falls were in public order (-43%) and criminal damage and arson (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 174 | 41.2 | 1.20 | -20% |
| Shoplifting | 86 | 20.4 | 2.46 | +30% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 38 | 9.0 | 0.59 | +23% |
| Public order | 31 | 7.3 | 1.10 | -43% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 29 | 6.9 | 1.01 | -28% |
| Other theft | 18 | 4.3 | 0.67 | -22% |
| Other crime | 10 | 2.4 | 1.12 | -23% |
| Burglary | 8 | 1.9 | 0.54 | -56% |
| Drugs | 8 | 1.9 | 0.58 | +60% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.7 | 0.73 | -62% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.5 | 0.35 | -33% |
| Vehicle crime | 2 | 0.5 | 0.10 | -83% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.29 | -75% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.14 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Neston
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Neston recorded 174 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (41.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 42.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Neston
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Neston recorded 86 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 20.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Neston
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Neston recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Neston
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Neston recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Neston
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Neston recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Neston
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Neston recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Neston
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Neston recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Neston
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Neston recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 56% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Neston
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Neston recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Neston
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Neston recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Neston
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Neston recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Neston
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Neston recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 83% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Neston
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Neston recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 75% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Neston
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Neston recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Neston, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Neston.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Neston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkgate | 133 | 23.5 | -76% |
| Little Neston | 231 | 35.9 | -63% |
| Willaston & Thornton | 127 | 28.9 | -70% |
| Ledsham & Manor | 333 | 31.0 | -68% |
| Netherpool | 272 | 55.3 | -43% |
| Sutton Villages | 849 | 80.8 | -17% |
| Strawberry | 140 | 29.5 | -70% |
| Whitby Park | 443 | 76.9 | -21% |
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 Neston over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 57 |
| On or near High Street | 50 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 32 |
| On or near Frobisher Road | 23 |
| On or near Supermarket | 20 |
| On or near Mayfield Gardens | 19 |
| On or near Police Station | 15 |
| On or near Cross Street | 14 |
| On or near Spenser Road | 13 |
| On or near Liverpool Road | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Neston 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 | 141 | 34.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 83 | 20.2% |
| Under investigation | 47 | 11.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 41 | 10.0% |
| Not recorded | 38 | 9.2% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 4.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 4.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 2.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 2.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% |
Neston has an estimated population of 4,225. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Neston sits in decile 3.8, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Neston |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 51.4% |
| Social rented homes | 32.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.8 |
Is Neston a safe place to live?
Neston recorded 97.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Neston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 174 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (86).
Is crime in Neston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Neston was down 17% on the year before: 411 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 495 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Neston?
Neston 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 Neston. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.