Crime in Whitchurch West: statistics, rates and trends
213 crimes were recorded in Whitchurch West in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Whitchurch West at a glance
- Crime trends in Whitchurch West
- Types of crime in Whitchurch West
- Whitchurch West compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Whitchurch West
- What happened after crimes were reported in Whitchurch West
- Demographics of Whitchurch West
- Questions about crime in Whitchurch West
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (103), anti-social behaviour (33) and shoplifting (17) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,682nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Whitchurch West | Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 213 | 19,214 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.3 | 57.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 3,655 | 332,455 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Whitchurch West peaked in the year to August 2018 (295 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (197). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 28%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 213 | 58.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 204 | 55.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 197 | 53.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 202 | 55.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 205 | 56.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 260 | 71.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 258 | 70.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 241 | 65.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 295 | 80.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 10 |
| July 2026 | 17 |
| June 2026 | 18 |
| May 2026 | 21 |
| April 2026 | 14 |
| March 2026 | 25 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| January 2026 | 19 |
| December 2025 | 14 |
| November 2025 | 19 |
| October 2025 | 22 |
| September 2025 | 18 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (41% below) was well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 75 to 103.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 103 | 28.2 | 34.2 | +37% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 33 | 9.0 | 15.4 | 0% |
| Shoplifting | 17 | 4.7 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 16 | 4.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 12 | 3.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 10 | 2.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 1.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 1 | 0.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Whitchurch West; the highest is Market Drayton East & Rural (90.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Prees, Shropshire (35.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Whitchurch West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whitchurch North | 434 | 82.1 | +41% |
| Prees | 175 | 35.9 | -38% |
| Wem | 565 | 58.7 | +1% |
| Market Drayton North | 191 | 40.0 | -31% |
| Market Drayton South | 241 | 56.3 | -3% |
| Hodnet | 327 | 55.0 | -6% |
| Ellesmere Urban | 295 | 57.9 | -1% |
| Market Drayton East & Rural | 517 | 90.8 | +56% |
The 10 locations below account for 64% of the crime recorded in Whitchurch West over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Waterfront View” (34).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Waterfront View | 34 |
| On or near Parking Area | 24 |
| On or near Yardington | 18 |
| On or near Meadow View Road | 10 |
| On or near Newtown | 9 |
| On or near Sharps Drive | 9 |
| On or near Sherrymill Hill | 9 |
| On or near Highgate | 8 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 8 |
| On or near Thompson Drive | 8 |
Of the 180 crimes in Whitchurch West with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 33 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 88 | 48.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 43 | 23.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 14 | 7.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 6.7% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 2.2% | 0.6% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.1% | 0.3% |
Whitchurch West has an estimated population of 3,655 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%), an older population (25%, against 19%) and fewer households without a car (17%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Whitchurch West average decile 5.6 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Whitchurch West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Whitchurch West a safe place to live?
Whitchurch West recorded 58.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,682nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Whitchurch West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 103 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (33).
Is crime in Whitchurch West going up or down?
Recorded crime in Whitchurch West was up 4% on the year before: 213 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 204 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Whitchurch West?
About 3,655 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Whitchurch West?
Whitchurch West is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.