Crime in Willaston & Thornton: statistics, rates and trends
134 crimes were recorded in Willaston & Thornton in the 12 months to August 2026, 30.5 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 Willaston & Thornton at a glance
- Crime trends in Willaston & Thornton
- Types of crime in Willaston & Thornton
- Willaston & Thornton compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Willaston & Thornton
- What happened after crimes were reported in Willaston & Thornton
- Demographics of Willaston & Thornton
- Questions about crime in Willaston & Thornton
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (54), anti-social behaviour (20) and public order (16) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,755th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Willaston & Thornton | Cheshire West and Chester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 134 | 27,265 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 30.5 | 73.4 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 4,393 | 371,652 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Willaston & Thornton peaked in the year to August 2020 (212 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (129). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 12%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 134 | 30.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 129 | 29.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 167 | 38.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 172 | 39.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 192 | 43.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 205 | 46.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 212 | 48.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 143 | 32.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 153 | 34.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 16 |
| July 2026 | 10 |
| June 2026 | 19 |
| May 2026 | 7 |
| April 2026 | 9 |
| March 2026 | 8 |
| February 2026 | 12 |
| January 2026 | 10 |
| December 2025 | 6 |
| November 2025 | 10 |
| October 2025 | 10 |
| September 2025 | 17 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (70% below) and violence and sexual offences (64% below) were well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 54 | 12.3 | 34.2 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 20 | 4.6 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 16 | 3.6 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 10 | 2.3 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 9 | 2.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 8 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 1.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 4 | 0.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 3 | 0.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 2 | 0.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Willaston & Thornton; the highest is Westminster, Cheshire West and Chester (128.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Parkgate (24.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Willaston & Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ledsham & Manor | 353 | 32.9 | +8% |
| Netherpool | 266 | 54.1 | +77% |
| Sutton Villages | 861 | 82.0 | +169% |
| Little Neston | 242 | 37.6 | +23% |
| Neston | 406 | 96.1 | +215% |
| Parkgate | 136 | 24.0 | -21% |
| Westminster | 885 | 128.3 | +321% |
| Central & Grange | 1,929 | 121.5 | +298% |
The 10 locations below account for 50% of the crime recorded in Willaston & Thornton over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Valentine Street” (11).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Valentine Street | 11 |
| On or near Heath Lane | 10 |
| On or near New Road | 8 |
| On or near Old Farm Close | 8 |
| On or near Vernon Avenue | 8 |
| On or near Barrel Court | 5 |
| On or near Woodland View | 5 |
| On or near Buckley Court | 4 |
| On or near Hallwood Drive | 4 |
| On or near Hooton | 4 |
Of the 114 crimes in Willaston & Thornton with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 20 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 48 | 42.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 34 | 29.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 16 | 14.0% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 6.1% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1 | 0.9% | 1.3% |
Willaston & Thornton has an estimated population of 4,393 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more retired residents (37%, against 22%), less social housing (5.7%, against 17.1%) and fewer households without a car (8.3%, against 23.3%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Willaston & Thornton average decile 8.3 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Willaston & Thornton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 37.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 46.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 83.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 5.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Willaston & Thornton a safe place to live?
Willaston & Thornton recorded 30.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,755th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Willaston & Thornton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 54 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (20).
Is crime in Willaston & Thornton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Willaston & Thornton was up 4% on the year before: 134 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 129 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Willaston & Thornton?
About 4,393 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 30% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Willaston & Thornton?
Willaston & Thornton is policed by Cheshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.