Crime in Cockermouth: statistics, rates and trends
408 crimes were recorded in Cockermouth in the 12 months to August 2026, 47.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cockermouth at a glance
- Crime trends in Cockermouth
- Types of crime in Cockermouth
- Cockermouth compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Cockermouth
- Streets with the most crime in Cockermouth
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cockermouth
- Demographics of Cockermouth
- Questions about crime in Cockermouth
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (205), public order (47) and criminal damage and arson (42) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,192nd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Cockermouth | Cumberland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 408 | 23,055 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 47.6 | 82.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 8,577 | 280,495 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cockermouth peaked in the year to August 2019 (634 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (389). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 19%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 408 | 47.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 389 | 45.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 391 | 45.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 516 | 60.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 620 | 72.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 506 | 59.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 560 | 65.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 634 | 73.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 506 | 59.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 33 |
| July 2026 | 38 |
| June 2026 | 42 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 49 |
| March 2026 | 33 |
| February 2026 | 16 |
| January 2026 | 32 |
| December 2025 | 23 |
| November 2025 | 32 |
| October 2025 | 43 |
| September 2025 | 36 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (83% below) and shoplifting (71% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 34 to 42, while anti-social behaviour fell from 29 to 23.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 205 | 23.9 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Public order | 47 | 5.5 | 6.7 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 42 | 4.9 | 6.7 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 23 | 2.7 | 15.4 | -21% |
| Other theft | 23 | 2.7 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 21 | 2.4 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 1.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 11 | 1.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 8 | 0.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Cockermouth; the highest is Workington (135.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Seaton (Allerdale) (35.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cockermouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryport | 863 | 104.4 | +120% |
| Seaton (Allerdale) | 186 | 35.5 | -25% |
| Workington | 3,081 | 135.5 | +185% |
| Whitehaven | 2,317 | 97.7 | +105% |
| Wigton | 421 | 67.9 | +43% |
| Carlisle | 9,447 | 119.0 | +150% |
| Penrith | 1,583 | 87.4 | +84% |
| Windermere | 373 | 65.9 | +38% |
Of the 2 areas within Cockermouth, Cockermouth North had the highest crime rate (50.5 per 1,000) and Cockermouth South the lowest (28.7).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cockermouth North | Neighbourhood | 5,622 | 284 | 50.5 |
| Cockermouth South | Neighbourhood | 6,797 | 195 | 28.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 43% of the crime recorded in Cockermouth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (31).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 31 |
| On or near Station Street | 28 |
| On or near Croftside | 23 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 18 |
| On or near A5086 | 14 |
| On or near Main Street | 14 |
| On or near A66 | 12 |
| On or near Market Place | 12 |
| On or near Castlegate Drive | 11 |
| On or near Supermarket | 11 |
Of the 385 crimes in Cockermouth with a recorded outcome, 22% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 23 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 188 | 48.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 86 | 22.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 42 | 10.9% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 23 | 6.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 11 | 2.9% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.0% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.0% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Cockermouth has an estimated population of 8,577 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more retired residents (34%, against 22%), an older population (29%, against 19%) and fewer students (4.4%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cockermouth average decile 7.7 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Cockermouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 34.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 40.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Cockermouth a safe place to live?
Cockermouth recorded 47.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,192nd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Cockermouth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 205 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by public order (47).
Is crime in Cockermouth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cockermouth was up 5% on the year before: 408 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 389 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cockermouth?
About 8,577 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 29% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cockermouth?
Cockermouth is policed by Cumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.