Crime in Liverpool: statistics, rates and trends

70,579 crimes were recorded in Liverpool in the 12 months to July 2026, 133.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 26,139 reports (37% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Liverpool has the 109th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Liverpool was highest in the year to July 2022 (82,700 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (69,462). Over the whole period it fell 5%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Liverpool 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, drugs, public order.

The largest increases were in shoplifting (+19%) and bicycle theft (+17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Liverpool

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Liverpool recorded 26,139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (49.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 37.0% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Liverpool

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Liverpool recorded 7,614 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 10.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Liverpool

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Liverpool recorded 6,554 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Liverpool

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Liverpool recorded 6,503 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Liverpool

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Liverpool recorded 5,468 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Liverpool

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Liverpool recorded 5,172 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Liverpool

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Liverpool recorded 4,037 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Liverpool

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Liverpool recorded 2,731 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Liverpool

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Liverpool recorded 1,822 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 down 8% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Liverpool

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Liverpool recorded 1,754 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Liverpool

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Liverpool recorded 839 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Liverpool

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Liverpool recorded 705 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 up 6% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Liverpool

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Liverpool recorded 631 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Liverpool

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Liverpool recorded 610 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Liverpool, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Liverpool.

65 areas within Liverpool, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Brownlow Hill had the highest rate (634.0 per 1,000) and Calderstones the lowest (28.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Liverpool over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Liverpool 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.

Liverpool has an estimated population of 527,270. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Liverpool sits in decile 3.4, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Liverpool. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.