Crime in North West: statistics, rates and trends
442,012 crimes were recorded in North West in the 12 months to July 2026, 93.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Note: Greater Manchester Police has published almost no street-level crime data since mid-2019, so Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Wigan are not included in these figures.
442,012 crimes were recorded in North West in the 12 months to July 2026, 93.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 180,547 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 9 regions covered by this site, North West has the 5th highest crime rate.
| Measure | North West | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 442,012 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 93.5 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 4,727,750 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in North West was highest in the year to July 2021 (537,676 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (442,012). Over the whole period it fell 16%, 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 | 442,012 | 93.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 452,282 | 95.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 456,537 | 96.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 486,172 | 102.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 515,274 | 109.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 537,676 | 113.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 518,825 | 109.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 506,083 | 107.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 523,793 | 110.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 41,270 |
| June 2026 | 39,427 |
| May 2026 | 37,955 |
| April 2026 | 35,645 |
| March 2026 | 36,975 |
| February 2026 | 31,383 |
| January 2026 | 33,368 |
| December 2025 | 35,087 |
| November 2025 | 35,636 |
| October 2025 | 38,091 |
| September 2025 | 36,509 |
| August 2025 | 40,666 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in North West 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 drugs. The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-22%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 180,547 | 38.2 | 1.12 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 62,622 | 13.2 | 0.86 | -22% |
| Public order | 36,917 | 7.8 | 1.18 | +2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 34,028 | 7.2 | 1.06 | -2% |
| Shoplifting | 28,718 | 6.1 | 0.73 | +6% |
| Other theft | 24,783 | 5.2 | 0.82 | +1% |
| Drugs | 23,187 | 4.9 | 1.50 | +5% |
| Vehicle crime | 14,416 | 3.0 | 0.62 | -4% |
| Burglary | 12,877 | 2.7 | 0.77 | -7% |
| Other crime | 11,079 | 2.3 | 1.11 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 4,646 | 1.0 | 1.01 | +7% |
| Robbery | 3,314 | 0.7 | 0.52 | +9% |
| Bicycle theft | 2,943 | 0.6 | 0.76 | -1% |
| Theft from the person | 1,935 | 0.4 | 0.24 | +2% |
Violence and sexual offences in North West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. North West recorded 180,547 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (38.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 40.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in North West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. North West recorded 62,622 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 14.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in North West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. North West recorded 36,917 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in North West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. North West recorded 34,028 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in North West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. North West recorded 28,718 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in North West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. North West recorded 24,783 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in North West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. North West recorded 23,187 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in North West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. North West recorded 14,416 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in North West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. North West recorded 12,877 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in North West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. North West recorded 11,079 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in North West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. North West recorded 4,646 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in North West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. North West recorded 3,314 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in North West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. North West recorded 2,943 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in North West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. North West recorded 1,935 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the regions closest to North West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to North West.
| Region | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs North West |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 614,693 | 108.4 | +16% |
| West Midlands | 577,499 | 93.3 | -0% |
| East Midlands | 473,524 | 93.5 | +0% |
| North East | 319,718 | 115.8 | +24% |
| East of England | 526,234 | 80.0 | -14% |
| South West | 491,906 | 83.5 | -11% |
| London | 1,130,928 | 124.4 | +33% |
| South East | 784,242 | 81.3 | -13% |
14 areas within North West, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Blackpool had the highest rate (186.3 per 1,000) and Cheshire East the lowest (67.0). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackpool | District | 144,191 | 26,857 | 186.3 |
| Liverpool | District | 508,961 | 69,358 | 136.3 |
| Blackburn with Darwen | District | 162,540 | 18,049 | 111.0 |
| St. Helens | District | 188,861 | 17,936 | 95.0 |
| Lancashire | County | 1,294,914 | 121,026 | 93.5 |
| Knowsley | District | 162,565 | 15,048 | 92.6 |
| Halton | District | 131,543 | 11,964 | 91.0 |
| Sefton | District | 286,281 | 24,388 | 85.2 |
| Cumberland | District | 280,495 | 22,903 | 81.7 |
| Wirral | District | 328,873 | 26,231 | 79.8 |
| Warrington | District | 215,391 | 16,255 | 75.5 |
| Cheshire West and Chester | District | 371,652 | 27,080 | 72.9 |
| Westmorland and Furness | District | 230,185 | 16,685 | 72.5 |
| Cheshire East | District | 421,298 | 28,232 | 67.0 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in North West 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 | 151,746 | 34.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 100,217 | 22.6% |
| Not recorded | 62,640 | 14.2% |
| Under investigation | 43,179 | 9.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24,873 | 5.6% |
| Local resolution | 21,376 | 4.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 13,214 | 3.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 11,622 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4,058 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3,595 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 3,424 | 0.8% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1,673 | 0.4% |
North West has an estimated population of 4,727,750. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in North West sits in decile 4.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | North West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 30.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 102.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.0% |
| Social rented homes | 17.6% |
| Private rented homes | 19.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 21.2% |
Is North West a safe place to live?
North West recorded 93.5 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 North West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 180,547 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (62,622).
Is crime in North West going up or down?
Recorded crime in North West was down 2% on the year before: 442,012 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 452,282 in the previous 12 months.
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 North West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.