Crime in St Helens Town Centre: statistics, rates and trends
3,584 crimes were recorded in St Helens Town Centre in the 12 months to July 2026, 317.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in St Helens Town Centre at a glance
- Crime trends in St Helens Town Centre
- Types of crime in St Helens Town Centre
- St Helens Town Centre compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in St Helens Town Centre
- What happened after crimes were reported in St Helens Town Centre
- Population and deprivation in St Helens Town Centre
- Questions about crime in St Helens Town Centre
- About this data
3,584 crimes were recorded in St Helens Town Centre in the 12 months to July 2026, 317.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,351 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, St Helens Town Centre has the 53rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | St Helens Town Centre | St. Helens | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 3,584 | 17,936 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 317.5 | 95.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 11,289 | 188,861 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in St Helens Town Centre was highest in the year to July 2022 (4,901 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (3,537). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 | 3,584 | 317.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 3,537 | 313.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 3,771 | 334.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 4,407 | 390.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 4,901 | 434.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 4,147 | 367.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 3,977 | 352.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 3,978 | 352.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 4,028 | 356.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 335 |
| June 2026 | 327 |
| May 2026 | 294 |
| April 2026 | 268 |
| March 2026 | 307 |
| February 2026 | 254 |
| January 2026 | 275 |
| December 2025 | 256 |
| November 2025 | 315 |
| October 2025 | 323 |
| September 2025 | 318 |
| August 2025 | 312 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in St Helens Town Centre 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 violence and sexual offences, public order, anti-social behaviour.
The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+60%) and shoplifting (+50%). The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-21%) and burglary (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,351 | 119.7 | 3.50 | +2% |
| Public order | 391 | 34.6 | 5.21 | -9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 381 | 33.7 | 2.20 | -13% |
| Shoplifting | 355 | 31.4 | 3.80 | +50% |
| Drugs | 299 | 26.5 | 8.10 | -14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 269 | 23.8 | 3.51 | +6% |
| Other theft | 157 | 13.9 | 2.17 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 93 | 8.2 | 1.67 | +60% |
| Other crime | 87 | 7.7 | 3.65 | +24% |
| Burglary | 84 | 7.4 | 2.10 | -17% |
| Robbery | 36 | 3.2 | 2.36 | +50% |
| Possession of weapons | 33 | 2.9 | 3.01 | -21% |
| Bicycle theft | 25 | 2.2 | 2.69 | +9% |
| Theft from the person | 23 | 2.0 | 1.21 | -4% |
Violence and sexual offences in St Helens Town Centre
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. St Helens Town Centre recorded 1,351 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (119.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 37.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in St Helens Town Centre
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. St Helens Town Centre recorded 391 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 10.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in St Helens Town Centre
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. St Helens Town Centre recorded 381 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 10.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in St Helens Town Centre
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. St Helens Town Centre recorded 355 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in St Helens Town Centre
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. St Helens Town Centre recorded 299 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in St Helens Town Centre
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. St Helens Town Centre recorded 269 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in St Helens Town Centre
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. St Helens Town Centre recorded 157 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in St Helens Town Centre
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. St Helens Town Centre recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in St Helens Town Centre
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. St Helens Town Centre recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in St Helens Town Centre
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. St Helens Town Centre recorded 84 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in St Helens Town Centre
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. St Helens Town Centre recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in St Helens Town Centre
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. St Helens Town Centre recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in St Helens Town Centre
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. St Helens Town Centre recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in St Helens Town Centre
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. St Helens Town Centre recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to St Helens Town Centre, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to St Helens Town Centre.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs St Helens Town Centre |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Park | 1,118 | 92.5 | -71% |
| Windle | 618 | 66.5 | -79% |
| Moss Bank | 819 | 77.6 | -76% |
| Peasley Cross & Fingerpost | 1,260 | 295.8 | -7% |
| Blackbrook | 818 | 76.1 | -76% |
| Parr | 2,061 | 138.4 | -56% |
| Thatto Heath | 1,023 | 80.5 | -75% |
| Sutton North West | 310 | 66.6 | -79% |
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 St Helens Town Centre over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Nightclub | 341 |
| On or near Parking Area | 244 |
| On or near William Street | 141 |
| On or near Linkway West | 120 |
| On or near Supermarket | 111 |
| On or near Shaw Street | 110 |
| On or near Highpoint | 103 |
| On or near Brook Street | 77 |
| On or near Chalon Way West | 74 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 71 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in St Helens Town Centre 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 | 1,323 | 36.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 889 | 24.8% |
| Not recorded | 381 | 10.6% |
| Under investigation | 314 | 8.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 267 | 7.4% |
| Local resolution | 146 | 4.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 125 | 3.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 59 | 1.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 29 | 0.8% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 20 | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 17 | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.3% |
St Helens Town Centre has an estimated population of 11,289. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in St Helens Town Centre sits in decile 1.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | St Helens Town Centre |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 35.6% |
| Social rented homes | 33.4% |
| Private rented homes | 30.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 71.8% |
Is St Helens Town Centre a safe place to live?
St Helens Town Centre recorded 317.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 St Helens Town Centre?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,351 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (391).
Is crime in St Helens Town Centre going up or down?
Recorded crime in St Helens Town Centre was up 1% on the year before: 3,584 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 3,537 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers St Helens Town Centre?
St Helens Town Centre 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 St Helens Town Centre. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.