Crime in Prescot: statistics, rates and trends
4,093 crimes were recorded in Prescot in the 12 months to August 2026, 100.0 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,630), anti-social behaviour (495) and shoplifting (443) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 346th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Prescot | Knowsley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 4,093 | 14,983 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 100.0 | 92.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 40,910 | 162,565 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Prescot peaked in the year to August 2022 (4,509 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (3,527). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 4,093 | 100.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 3,812 | 93.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,814 | 93.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 4,180 | 102.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 4,509 | 110.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 4,190 | 102.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 3,895 | 95.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 3,527 | 86.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 4,101 | 100.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 363 |
| July 2026 | 378 |
| June 2026 | 385 |
| May 2026 | 346 |
| April 2026 | 346 |
| March 2026 | 389 |
| February 2026 | 275 |
| January 2026 | 323 |
| December 2025 | 298 |
| November 2025 | 297 |
| October 2025 | 351 |
| September 2025 | 342 |
Compared with England and Wales, Prescot recorded notably more drugs (2.6 times the national rate), public order (46% above the national rate) and shoplifting (28% above the national rate), and notably less burglary (59% below) and vehicle crime (54% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 281 to 443 and possession of weapons rose from 30 to 47, while other theft fell from 187 to 141 and criminal damage and arson fell from 365 to 309.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,630 | 39.8 | 34.2 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 495 | 12.1 | 15.4 | +9% |
| Shoplifting | 443 | 10.8 | 8.5 | +58% |
| Public order | 398 | 9.7 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Drugs | 347 | 8.5 | 3.3 | +24% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 309 | 7.6 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Other theft | 141 | 3.4 | 6.4 | -25% |
| Other crime | 96 | 2.3 | 2.1 | +13% |
| Vehicle crime | 94 | 2.3 | 5.0 | -7% |
| Burglary | 60 | 1.5 | 3.6 | +3% |
| Possession of weapons | 47 | 1.1 | 1.0 | +57% |
| Robbery | 16 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 13 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Prescot; the highest is Liverpool (133.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Rainford (34.4).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Prescot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huyton with Roby | 5,057 | 82.3 | -18% |
| St Helens (St. Helens) | 12,250 | 119.7 | +20% |
| Widnes | 5,487 | 89.5 | -11% |
| Liverpool | 70,503 | 133.7 | +34% |
| Rainford | 185 | 34.4 | -66% |
| Haydock | 1,080 | 74.3 | -26% |
| Kirkby | 4,602 | 101.2 | +1% |
| Billinge | 221 | 37.2 | -63% |
Of the 4 areas within Prescot, Prescot North had the highest crime rate (139.5 per 1,000) and Rainhill the lowest (54.5).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prescot North | Neighbourhood | 12,666 | 1,767 | 139.5 |
| Prescot South | Neighbourhood | 10,494 | 1,125 | 107.2 |
| Whiston and Cronton | Neighbourhood | 8,791 | 797 | 90.7 |
| Rainhill | Neighbourhood | 11,157 | 608 | 54.5 |
The 10 locations below account for 28% of the crime recorded in Prescot over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (376).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 376 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 171 |
| On or near Supermarket | 109 |
| On or near Layton Way | 90 |
| On or near Hall Lane | 89 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 76 |
| On or near Atherton Street | 66 |
| On or near Steley Way | 58 |
| On or near Kingsnorth | 56 |
| On or near Station Road | 53 |
Of the 3,598 crimes in Prescot with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 9.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 495 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,377 | 38.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 888 | 24.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 406 | 11.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 341 | 9.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 192 | 5.3% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 114 | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 98 | 2.7% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 67 | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 56 | 1.6% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 45 | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.0% | 0.3% |
Prescot has an estimated population of 40,910 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.5%, against 7.9%) and less private renting (15%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Prescot average decile 4.9 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Prescot | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 24.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 24.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 16.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 20.0% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Prescot a safe place to live?
Prescot recorded 100.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 346th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were drugs and public order.
What is the most common crime in Prescot?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,630 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (495).
Is crime in Prescot going up or down?
Recorded crime in Prescot was up 7% on the year before: 4,093 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 3,812 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Prescot?
About 40,910 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Prescot?
Prescot is policed by Merseyside.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.