Crime in Prenton: statistics, rates and trends
770 crimes were recorded in Prenton in the 12 months to July 2026, 54.7 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
770 crimes were recorded in Prenton in the 12 months to July 2026, 54.7 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 372 reports (48% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Prenton has the 2,832nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Prenton | Wirral | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 770 | 26,231 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 54.7 | 79.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 14,087 | 328,873 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Prenton was highest in the year to July 2018 (970 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (734). Over the whole period it fell 21%, 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 | 770 | 54.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 792 | 56.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 734 | 52.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 943 | 66.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 958 | 68.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 966 | 68.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 878 | 62.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 794 | 56.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 970 | 68.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 80 |
| June 2026 | 67 |
| May 2026 | 60 |
| April 2026 | 68 |
| March 2026 | 54 |
| February 2026 | 63 |
| January 2026 | 62 |
| December 2025 | 70 |
| November 2025 | 58 |
| October 2025 | 75 |
| September 2025 | 50 |
| August 2025 | 63 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Prenton 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 (+51%) and other crime (+30%).
The largest falls were in drugs (-36%) and criminal damage and arson (-35%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 372 | 26.4 | 0.77 | +5% |
| Public order | 71 | 5.0 | 0.76 | -28% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 58 | 4.1 | 0.27 | -22% |
| Other theft | 53 | 3.8 | 0.59 | +51% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 50 | 3.5 | 0.52 | -35% |
| Shoplifting | 40 | 2.8 | 0.34 | +186% |
| Vehicle crime | 31 | 2.2 | 0.45 | -9% |
| Burglary | 28 | 2.0 | 0.56 | +8% |
| Drugs | 27 | 1.9 | 0.59 | -36% |
| Other crime | 26 | 1.8 | 0.87 | +30% |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.5 | 0.51 | +17% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.2 | 0.16 | -67% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.17 | -33% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.1 | 0.08 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Prenton
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Prenton recorded 372 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 48.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Prenton
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Prenton recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Prenton
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Prenton recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Prenton
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Prenton recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 51% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Prenton
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Prenton recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 35% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Prenton
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Prenton recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 186% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Prenton
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Prenton recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Prenton
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Prenton recorded 28 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 8% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Prenton
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Prenton recorded 27 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 down 36% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Prenton
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Prenton recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Prenton
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Prenton recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Prenton
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Prenton recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Prenton
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Prenton 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 33% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Prenton
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Prenton recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Prenton, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Prenton.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Prenton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxton | 989 | 69.6 | +27% |
| Birkenhead and Tranmere | 4,652 | 259.1 | +374% |
| Rock Ferry | 1,622 | 99.5 | +82% |
| Claughton | 1,301 | 86.0 | +57% |
| Bebington | 708 | 46.7 | -15% |
| Bidston and St James | 2,307 | 141.0 | +158% |
| Upton | 1,596 | 90.8 | +66% |
| Bromborough | 1,470 | 86.6 | +58% |
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 Prenton over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Borough Road | 34 |
| On or near Goldsmith Way | 28 |
| On or near Cambridge Road | 24 |
| On or near Parkhurst Road | 24 |
| On or near St Georges Gardens | 23 |
| On or near Mount Road | 22 |
| On or near Parkend Road | 22 |
| On or near Westbank Road | 20 |
| On or near Prenton Dell Road | 19 |
| On or near St Georges Avenue | 19 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Prenton 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 | 356 | 46.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 185 | 24.0% |
| Under investigation | 60 | 7.8% |
| Not recorded | 58 | 7.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 36 | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 19 | 2.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 2.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 1.8% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.3% |
Prenton has an estimated population of 14,087. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Prenton sits in decile 5.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Prenton |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.3% |
| Social rented homes | 10.8% |
| Private rented homes | 15.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.1 |
Is Prenton a safe place to live?
Prenton recorded 54.7 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 Prenton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 372 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (71).
Is crime in Prenton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Prenton was down 3% on the year before: 770 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 792 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Prenton?
Prenton 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 Prenton. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.