Crime in Ormskirk: statistics, rates and trends

1,494 crimes were recorded in Ormskirk in the 12 months to July 2026, 49.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before.

1,494 crimes were recorded in Ormskirk in the 12 months to July 2026, 49.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 590 reports (39% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Ormskirk has the 1,172nd highest crime rate.

MeasureOrmskirkWest LancashireEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 20261,4947,5975,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents49.062.396.4
Change on previous 12 months-19%-12%-1%
Population30,479121,99558,797,018

Recorded crime in Ormskirk was highest in the year to July 2020 (2,267 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,494). Over the whole period it fell 32%, 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 20261,49449.096.4
Year to July 20251,85360.897.1
Year to July 20241,74357.297.7
Year to July 20231,67755.05.2
Year to July 20221,81659.6101.3
Year to July 20212,09268.6102.1
Year to July 20202,26774.4101.9
Year to July 20192,26474.3101.5
Year to July 20182,19872.1100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 2026158
June 2026134
May 2026128
April 2026125
March 2026112
February 202697
January 202690
December 2025148
November 2025121
October 2025133
September 2025130
August 2025118

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ormskirk 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 vehicle crime (+22%) and other theft (+15%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-44%) and shoplifting (-43%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences59019.40.57+3%
Anti-social behaviour34711.40.74-44%
Shoplifting1123.70.44-43%
Criminal damage and arson933.10.45-21%
Other theft832.70.43+15%
Public order752.50.37+14%
Vehicle crime491.60.33+22%
Burglary471.50.44-22%
Drugs291.00.29-41%
Other crime230.80.36-21%
Robbery200.70.49+122%
Possession of weapons190.60.64+171%
Bicycle theft40.10.16-56%
Theft from the person30.10.06-57%

Violence and sexual offences in Ormskirk

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ormskirk recorded 590 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 39.5% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Ormskirk

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ormskirk recorded 347 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 23.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Ormskirk

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ormskirk recorded 112 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Ormskirk

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ormskirk recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Ormskirk

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ormskirk recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Ormskirk

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ormskirk recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Ormskirk

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ormskirk recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Ormskirk

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ormskirk recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Ormskirk

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ormskirk recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Ormskirk

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ormskirk recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Ormskirk

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ormskirk recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 122% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Ormskirk

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ormskirk recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 171% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Ormskirk

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ormskirk recorded 4 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 56% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Ormskirk

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ormskirk 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 down 57% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

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

TownCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Ormskirk
Burscough75573.6+50%
Lydiate30536.6-25%
Maghull97850.0+2%
Skelmersdale3,42096.9+98%
Kirkby4,592100.9+106%
Rainford19335.9-27%
Aintree59589.5+83%
Southport7,65480.6+65%

4 areas within Ormskirk, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ormskirk East had the highest rate (76.2 per 1,000) and Aughton & Holborn the lowest (26.5). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

AreaTypePopulationCrimesPer 1,000
Ormskirk EastNeighbourhood9,70073976.2
Ormskirk WestNeighbourhood8,31446856.3
Rural SouthNeighbourhood4,98313326.7
Aughton & HolbornNeighbourhood9,79826026.5

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 Ormskirk over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Supermarket147
On or near Parking Area93
On or near Moor Street91
On or near Dicconson Way65
On or near Theatre/Concert Hall40
On or near The Stiles33
On or near Crosshall Brow20
On or near Green Lane Avenue20
On or near Ellerbrook Way19
On or near Scott Drive19

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ormskirk 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 suspect44129.5%
Not recorded34723.2%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified34523.1%
Under investigation1459.7%
Local resolution593.9%
Status update unavailable533.5%
Awaiting court outcome302.0%
Offender given a caution241.6%
Action to be taken by another organisation140.9%
Court result unavailable140.9%
Further investigation is not in the public interest90.6%
Offender given penalty notice90.6%

Ormskirk has an estimated population of 30,479. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ormskirk sits in decile 8.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureOrmskirk
Aged 0 to 1513.2%
Aged 16 to 6463.6%
Aged 65 and over23.2%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage76.4%
Social rented homes9.3%
Private rented homes14.2%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)8.2

Is Ormskirk a safe place to live?

Ormskirk recorded 49.0 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 Ormskirk?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 590 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (347).

Is crime in Ormskirk going up or down?

Recorded crime in Ormskirk was down 19% on the year before: 1,494 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,853 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Ormskirk?

Ormskirk is policed by Lancashire. 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 Ormskirk. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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

Related Posts

Cite this page

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