Crime in Morecambe: statistics, rates and trends

4,629 crimes were recorded in Morecambe in the 12 months to July 2026, 144.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,576 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Morecambe has the 79th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Morecambe was highest in the year to July 2019 (5,738 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (4,395). Over the whole period it fell 19%, 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 Morecambe 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, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in bicycle theft (+100%) and vehicle crime (+50%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-19%).

Violence and sexual offences in Morecambe

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Morecambe recorded 1,576 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (49.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 34.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Morecambe

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Morecambe recorded 1,044 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 22.6% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Morecambe

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Morecambe recorded 446 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 9.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Morecambe

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Morecambe recorded 315 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Morecambe

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Morecambe recorded 260 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Morecambe

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Morecambe recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Morecambe

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Morecambe recorded 198 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Morecambe

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Morecambe recorded 193 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Morecambe

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Morecambe recorded 136 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Morecambe

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Morecambe recorded 100 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Morecambe

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Morecambe recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Morecambe

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Morecambe recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Morecambe

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Morecambe recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 31% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Morecambe

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Morecambe recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

5 areas within Morecambe, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Poulton had the highest rate (269.4 per 1,000) and Torrisholme the lowest (50.8). 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 Morecambe over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Morecambe 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.

Morecambe has an estimated population of 32,024. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Morecambe sits in decile 4.1, 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 Morecambe. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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