Crime in Crewe: statistics, rates and trends
8,050 crimes were recorded in Crewe in the 12 months to August 2026, 105.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (3,415), public order (903) and anti-social behaviour (757) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 294th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Crewe | Cheshire East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 8,050 | 28,139 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 105.4 | 66.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 76,376 | 421,298 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Crewe peaked in the year to August 2018 (10,247 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (7,967). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 8,050 | 105.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 7,994 | 104.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 7,967 | 104.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 8,399 | 110.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 8,493 | 111.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 8,892 | 116.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 9,275 | 121.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 9,813 | 128.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 10,247 | 134.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 657 |
| July 2026 | 731 |
| June 2026 | 838 |
| May 2026 | 727 |
| April 2026 | 717 |
| March 2026 | 644 |
| February 2026 | 585 |
| January 2026 | 711 |
| December 2025 | 575 |
| November 2025 | 630 |
| October 2025 | 596 |
| September 2025 | 639 |
Compared with England and Wales, Crewe recorded notably more drugs (2.1 times the national rate), public order (77% above the national rate) and possession of weapons (35% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (81% below) and vehicle crime (55% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 359 to 529 and other theft rose from 414 to 483, while bicycle theft fell from 102 to 79 and burglary fell from 242 to 196.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,415 | 44.7 | 34.2 | -3% |
| Public order | 903 | 11.8 | 6.7 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 757 | 9.9 | 15.4 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 595 | 7.8 | 8.5 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 547 | 7.2 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Drugs | 529 | 6.9 | 3.3 | +47% |
| Other theft | 483 | 6.3 | 6.4 | +17% |
| Other crime | 201 | 2.6 | 2.1 | -7% |
| Burglary | 196 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -19% |
| Vehicle crime | 170 | 2.2 | 5.0 | +8% |
| Possession of weapons | 100 | 1.3 | 1.0 | +4% |
| Bicycle theft | 79 | 1.0 | 0.8 | -23% |
| Robbery | 51 | 0.7 | 1.4 | +9% |
| Theft from the person | 24 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Crewe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shavington | 279 | 42.5 | -60% |
| Nantwich | 1,655 | 79.3 | -25% |
| Elworth | 301 | 37.6 | -64% |
| Sandbach | 899 | 68.1 | -35% |
| Alsager | 928 | 57.4 | -46% |
| Middlewich | 1,122 | 76.8 | -27% |
| Winsford | 3,082 | 87.1 | -17% |
| Holmes Chapel | 203 | 29.3 | -72% |
Of the 9 areas within Crewe, Crewe Central had the highest crime rate (169.8 per 1,000) and Willaston and Rope the lowest (37.2), 5 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crewe Central | Neighbourhood | 8,403 | 1,427 | 169.8 |
| Crewe East | Neighbourhood | 17,702 | 2,569 | 145.1 |
| Crewe South | Neighbourhood | 13,150 | 1,463 | 111.3 |
| Crewe West | Neighbourhood | 10,961 | 1,165 | 106.3 |
| Crewe St Barnabas | Neighbourhood | 3,955 | 309 | 78.1 |
| Leighton | Neighbourhood | 6,971 | 524 | 75.2 |
| Crewe North | Neighbourhood | 5,744 | 423 | 73.6 |
| Wistaston | Neighbourhood | 9,775 | 444 | 45.4 |
| Willaston and Rope | Neighbourhood | 6,459 | 240 | 37.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 26% of the crime recorded in Crewe over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (649).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 649 |
| On or near Supermarket | 491 |
| On or near White Avenue | 176 |
| On or near Hospital | 168 |
| On or near Newdigate Street | 161 |
| On or near Eaton Street | 114 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 103 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 79 |
| On or near Police Station | 71 |
| On or near Sandon Street | 69 |
Of the 7,293 crimes in Crewe with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 10% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 757 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,756 | 37.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,745 | 23.9% | 35.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 753 | 10.3% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 732 | 10.0% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 506 | 6.9% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 436 | 6.0% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 162 | 2.2% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 126 | 1.7% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 36 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 15 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Crewe has an estimated population of 76,376 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (26%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Crewe average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Crewe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 21.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 23.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 22.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 12.6% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Crewe a safe place to live?
Crewe recorded 105.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 294th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and public order.
What is the most common crime in Crewe?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,415 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by public order (903).
Is crime in Crewe going up or down?
Recorded crime in Crewe was almost unchanged on the year before: 8,050 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 7,994 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Crewe?
About 76,376 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 16% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Crewe?
Crewe 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.