Crime in Middlewich: statistics, rates and trends

1,117 crimes were recorded in Middlewich in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.

1,117 crimes were recorded in Middlewich in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.4 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 522 reports (47% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Middlewich has the 679th highest crime rate.

MeasureMiddlewichCheshire EastEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 20261,11728,2325,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents76.467.096.4
Change on previous 12 months+8%+3%-1%
Population14,613421,29858,797,018

Recorded crime in Middlewich was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,356 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (129). Over the whole period it fell 18%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 20261,11776.496.4
Year to July 20251,03170.697.1
Year to July 20241,01569.597.7
Year to July 20231298.85.2
Year to July 202242829.3101.3
Year to July 20211,32890.9102.1
Year to July 20201,34391.9101.9
Year to July 20191,22283.6101.5
Year to July 20181,35692.8100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 2026118
June 2026115
May 202696
April 202689
March 202697
February 202674
January 202673
December 202579
November 202594
October 202592
September 202585
August 2025105

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Middlewich 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 public order.

The largest increases were in drugs (+100%) and public order (+49%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-40%) and other crime (-23%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences52235.71.04+5%
Public order15910.91.64+49%
Criminal damage and arson1027.01.03+38%
Anti-social behaviour674.60.30-40%
Shoplifting644.40.53+0%
Drugs584.01.21+100%
Other theft513.50.55-2%
Other crime342.31.10-23%
Burglary292.00.56+32%
Possession of weapons141.00.99+180%
Vehicle crime100.70.14-44%
Robbery50.30.25+400%
Bicycle theft20.10.17-60%

Violence and sexual offences in Middlewich

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Middlewich recorded 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (35.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 46.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Middlewich

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Middlewich recorded 159 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 49% on the year before. It made up 14.2% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Middlewich

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Middlewich recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Middlewich

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Middlewich recorded 67 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Middlewich

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Middlewich recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Middlewich

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Middlewich recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Middlewich

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Middlewich recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Middlewich

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Middlewich recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Middlewich

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Middlewich recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Middlewich

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Middlewich recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 180% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Middlewich

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Middlewich recorded 10 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 44% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Middlewich

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Middlewich recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 400% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Middlewich

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Middlewich recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

TownCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Middlewich
Winsford3,03285.6+12%
Elworth31739.6-48%
Holmes Chapel19928.7-62%
Sandbach89367.7-11%
Davenham58438.1-50%
Rudheath22741.6-46%
Hartford26540.0-48%
Northwich1,996104.1+36%

1 areas within Middlewich, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Middlewich had the highest rate (76.4 per 1,000) and Middlewich the lowest (76.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

AreaTypePopulationCrimesPer 1,000
MiddlewichNeighbourhood14,6131,11776.4

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 Middlewich over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Sanderson Way104
On or near Bramble Close43
On or near Dierdens Terrace42
On or near Supermarket42
On or near Wheelock Street39
On or near Orchard Close37
On or near George Vi Close29
On or near Civic Way27
On or near Dale Court25
On or near Bradfield Close21

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Middlewich 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Unable to prosecute suspect41837.4%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified24121.6%
Under investigation11810.6%
Awaiting court outcome1089.7%
Not recorded676.0%
Court result unavailable635.6%
Local resolution605.4%
Status update unavailable181.6%
Action to be taken by another organisation151.3%
Offender given a caution50.4%
Further action is not in the public interest40.4%

Middlewich has an estimated population of 14,613. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Middlewich sits in decile 6.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureMiddlewich
Aged 0 to 1517.4%
Aged 16 to 6461.9%
Aged 65 and over20.8%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage75.3%
Social rented homes11.5%
Private rented homes13.1%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)6.9

Is Middlewich a safe place to live?

Middlewich recorded 76.4 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 Middlewich?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 522 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (159).

Is crime in Middlewich going up or down?

Recorded crime in Middlewich was up 8% on the year before: 1,117 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,031 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Middlewich?

Middlewich is policed by Cheshire. 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 Middlewich. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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

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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/towns/middlewich">https://policestatistics.co.uk/towns/middlewich</a>