Crime in Formby: statistics, rates and trends
1,155 crimes were recorded in Formby in the 12 months to July 2026, 50.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
1,155 crimes were recorded in Formby in the 12 months to July 2026, 50.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 448 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Formby has the 1,145th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Formby | Sefton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,155 | 24,388 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 50.7 | 85.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 22,766 | 286,281 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Formby was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,462 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (1,069). Over the whole period it fell 10%, 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 | 1,155 | 50.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,069 | 47.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,103 | 48.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,258 | 55.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,353 | 59.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,462 | 64.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,232 | 54.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,126 | 49.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,280 | 56.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 128 |
| June 2026 | 108 |
| May 2026 | 122 |
| April 2026 | 104 |
| March 2026 | 87 |
| February 2026 | 81 |
| January 2026 | 76 |
| December 2025 | 69 |
| November 2025 | 67 |
| October 2025 | 108 |
| September 2025 | 98 |
| August 2025 | 107 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Formby 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. The largest increases were in shoplifting (+64%) and anti-social behaviour (+35%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-62%) and criminal damage and arson (-29%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 448 | 19.7 | 0.57 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 184 | 8.1 | 0.53 | +35% |
| Shoplifting | 151 | 6.6 | 0.80 | +64% |
| Public order | 97 | 4.3 | 0.64 | +5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 63 | 2.8 | 0.41 | -29% |
| Other theft | 60 | 2.6 | 0.41 | -14% |
| Drugs | 44 | 1.9 | 0.59 | +19% |
| Burglary | 32 | 1.4 | 0.40 | -16% |
| Other crime | 27 | 1.2 | 0.56 | +23% |
| Vehicle crime | 15 | 0.7 | 0.13 | -62% |
| Robbery | 14 | 0.6 | 0.46 | +40% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.4 | 0.45 | +43% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.3 | 0.37 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.1 | 0.08 | +200% |
Violence and sexual offences in Formby
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Formby recorded 448 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 38.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Formby
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Formby recorded 184 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 35% on the year before. It made up 15.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Formby
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Formby recorded 151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 64% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Formby
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Formby recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Formby
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Formby recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Formby
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Formby recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Formby
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Formby recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Formby
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Formby recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Formby
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Formby recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Formby
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Formby recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Formby
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Formby recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Formby
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Formby recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Formby
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Formby recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Formby
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Formby recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Formby, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Formby.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Formby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crosby (Sefton) | 3,745 | 72.5 | +43% |
| Lydiate | 305 | 36.6 | -28% |
| Maghull | 978 | 50.0 | -1% |
| Southport | 7,654 | 80.6 | +59% |
| Litherland | 1,764 | 104.3 | +106% |
| Bootle (Sefton) | 7,504 | 131.2 | +159% |
| Ormskirk | 1,494 | 49.0 | -3% |
| Aintree | 595 | 89.5 | +76% |
2 areas within Formby, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Harington had the highest rate (51.8 per 1,000) and Ravenmeols the lowest (48.4). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harington | Neighbourhood | 12,219 | 633 | 51.8 |
| Ravenmeols | Neighbourhood | 11,889 | 575 | 48.4 |
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 Formby over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 86 |
| On or near Supermarket | 68 |
| On or near Cross Green | 62 |
| On or near Lunt'S Lane | 50 |
| On or near Sumner Road | 42 |
| On or near Westview Close | 28 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 21 |
| On or near Cricket Path | 19 |
| On or near The Paddock | 19 |
| On or near Alt Road | 18 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Formby 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 | 383 | 33.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 316 | 27.4% |
| Not recorded | 184 | 15.9% |
| Under investigation | 101 | 8.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 52 | 4.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 29 | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 27 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 22 | 1.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 16 | 1.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 12 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.3% |
Formby has an estimated population of 22,766. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Formby sits in decile 8.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Formby |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 30.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 86.2% |
| Social rented homes | 3.7% |
| Private rented homes | 10.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.2 |
Is Formby a safe place to live?
Formby recorded 50.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Formby?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 448 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (184).
Is crime in Formby going up or down?
Recorded crime in Formby was up 8% on the year before: 1,155 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,069 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Formby?
Formby 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 Formby. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.