Crime in Bootle (Sefton): statistics, rates and trends
7,504 crimes were recorded in Bootle (Sefton) in the 12 months to July 2026, 131.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Bootle (Sefton) at a glance
- Crime trends in Bootle (Sefton)
- Types of crime in Bootle (Sefton)
- Bootle (Sefton) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Bootle (Sefton)
- Streets with the most crime in Bootle (Sefton)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bootle (Sefton)
- Population and deprivation in Bootle (Sefton)
- Questions about crime in Bootle (Sefton)
- About this data
7,504 crimes were recorded in Bootle (Sefton) in the 12 months to July 2026, 131.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,191 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bootle (Sefton) has the 122nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bootle (Sefton) | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 7,504 | 24,388 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 131.2 | 85.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 57,206 | 286,281 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bootle (Sefton) was highest in the year to July 2022 (9,055 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (7,104). Over the whole period it fell 4%, 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 | 7,504 | 131.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 7,104 | 124.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 7,290 | 127.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 8,851 | 154.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 9,055 | 158.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 8,966 | 156.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 7,913 | 138.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 7,643 | 133.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 7,826 | 136.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 699 |
| June 2026 | 689 |
| May 2026 | 679 |
| April 2026 | 562 |
| March 2026 | 596 |
| February 2026 | 541 |
| January 2026 | 582 |
| December 2025 | 555 |
| November 2025 | 618 |
| October 2025 | 663 |
| September 2025 | 667 |
| August 2025 | 653 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bootle (Sefton) 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, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in robbery (+67%) and bicycle theft (+65%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-22%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,191 | 55.8 | 1.63 | +5% |
| Public order | 729 | 12.7 | 1.92 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 723 | 12.6 | 0.82 | +10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 634 | 11.1 | 1.63 | +12% |
| Drugs | 601 | 10.5 | 3.21 | -5% |
| Shoplifting | 413 | 7.2 | 0.87 | +20% |
| Other theft | 380 | 6.6 | 1.04 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 215 | 3.8 | 0.76 | -22% |
| Burglary | 199 | 3.5 | 0.98 | +24% |
| Other crime | 167 | 2.9 | 1.38 | +2% |
| Robbery | 77 | 1.3 | 1.00 | +67% |
| Bicycle theft | 76 | 1.3 | 1.61 | +65% |
| Possession of weapons | 76 | 1.3 | 1.37 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 23 | 0.4 | 0.24 | +92% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bootle (Sefton)
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 3,191 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (55.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 42.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bootle (Sefton)
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 729 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bootle (Sefton)
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 723 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bootle (Sefton)
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 634 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bootle (Sefton)
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 601 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bootle (Sefton)
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 413 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bootle (Sefton)
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 380 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bootle (Sefton)
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 215 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bootle (Sefton)
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 199 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bootle (Sefton)
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 167 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bootle (Sefton)
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bootle (Sefton)
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 65% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bootle (Sefton)
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bootle (Sefton)
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bootle (Sefton) recorded 23 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 92% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Bootle (Sefton), for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bootle (Sefton).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bootle (Sefton) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Litherland | 1,764 | 104.3 | -20% |
| Crosby (Sefton) | 3,745 | 72.5 | -45% |
| Aintree | 595 | 89.5 | -32% |
| Maghull | 978 | 50.0 | -62% |
| Kirkby | 4,592 | 100.9 | -23% |
| Lydiate | 305 | 36.6 | -72% |
| Liverpool | 70,579 | 133.9 | +2% |
| Wallasey | 7,028 | 80.5 | -39% |
4 areas within Bootle (Sefton), ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Linacre had the highest rate (206.1 per 1,000) and Netherton and Orrell the lowest (78.9). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linacre | Neighbourhood | 13,905 | 2,866 | 206.1 |
| St Oswald | Neighbourhood | 11,152 | 1,547 | 138.7 |
| Derby | Neighbourhood | 14,486 | 1,898 | 131.0 |
| Netherton and Orrell | Neighbourhood | 12,284 | 969 | 78.9 |
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 Bootle (Sefton) over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 270 |
| On or near Parking Area | 215 |
| On or near Back Stanley Road | 189 |
| On or near Supermarket | 140 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 128 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 108 |
| On or near Bedford Road | 103 |
| On or near Cricklade Close | 97 |
| On or near The Marian Square | 96 |
| On or near The Threshers | 91 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bootle (Sefton) 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 | 3,012 | 40.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,673 | 22.3% |
| Under investigation | 772 | 10.3% |
| Not recorded | 723 | 9.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 507 | 6.8% |
| Local resolution | 282 | 3.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 196 | 2.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 157 | 2.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 71 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 60 | 0.8% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 33 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 18 | 0.2% |
Bootle (Sefton) has an estimated population of 57,206. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bootle (Sefton) sits in decile 2.3, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bootle (Sefton) |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 49.2% |
| Social rented homes | 31.9% |
| Private rented homes | 18.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 55.3% |
Is Bootle (Sefton) a safe place to live?
Bootle (Sefton) recorded 131.2 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 Bootle (Sefton)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,191 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (729).
Is crime in Bootle (Sefton) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bootle (Sefton) was up 6% on the year before: 7,504 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 7,104 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bootle (Sefton)?
Bootle (Sefton) 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 Bootle (Sefton). Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.